Sancho of Nabaclis
childrenofsancho@yahoo.com
Sun, Jun 4, 2006 at 1:10 PM
Is it accurate? When Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose retired West Indies’ cricket, crumbled. Were Walsh and Ambrose the last of the great West Indies fast bowlers? If the answer is yes then it most mean that there are no more fast bowlers that can handle their business as professional players in the field of cricket. Then if you disagree then - what is the problem?
Why it is, individual fast bowlers are in and out of the team like revolving doors? Injuries are often the chosen wording of the explanations. Could it be the fast bowlers of this era are physically unfit?Are current fast bowlers professionally minded enough to acquire the standard of fitness necessary to participate at highest level for prolonging periods? The great fast bowlers of the past, such as Constantine, Gilchrist, Hall, Griffith, Boyce, Roberts, Holding, Daniels, Croft, and Garner were unbelievable.
What measures should West Indies Cricket board enforces to ensure the test match cricketers are in the best possible physical shape to perform at their peak? The decline of great West Indian fast bowling is the chief culprit for the poor performances the West Indies’ teams have delivered in the last fourteen years. However, when poor quality of batting is a feature of the teams the problems are highlighted. The banning of Gilchrist and the tragic passing of Collie Smith were severe blows which the teams of Alexander, Worrell and Sobers had to over come. The decline of Hall and Griffith, with none capable of taking their places, in the late 1960s was the main factor resulting in the poor record Sobers acquired as captain of West Indies teams. Sobers’ teams were always well equipped with talented and great batsmen. However, except for Gibbs, Hall, Griffith, and Sobers the bowling left much to be desired.
Kanhai inherited an aging team. Lloyd completed the rebuilding process which begun under Sobers. Richards continued with the Clive Lloyd Team mentality. The team capitulated under Ritchie Richardson. The team has not recovered. However, under Walsh, Lara, and Hooper teams have shown flashes, periodically, giving rise to building what turned out to be false hopes, nothing but mirages. It is said Franklyn Rose and Brian Lara were disgusted with Richardson sexual orientation, and that carried over to the test matches. Rumor has it that Richardson is a homosexual, and that played a major role in the destruction of the West Indies’ test teams, beginning with the omission of Rose from the squads.
The rise of holding, pairing him with Roberts, marked the beginnings of the unleashing of the fury of very fast and intimidating bowling which lifted West Indies’ cricket to the very top of the cricketing world. The West Indies’ teams enjoyed a prolonged reign because fast bowlers of high standard followed Roberts and Holding in quick succession. They included Daniels, Croft, Garner, Clarke, Marshall, Davis, Ambrose, Walsh, and Bishop. However, there were several others who merited selection but could not be included in the teams. They just happened when there was an abundance of talented bowlers. Now there is a famine. Your thoughts – share them - will you?
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