Sancho of Nabaclis
childrenofsancho@yahoo.com
Sun, Jun 4, 2006 at 1:15 PM
While reading the articles in the online version of the Guyana Chronicle, I encountered this description - Precise in footwork, high on confidence, flawless in shot-selection - in the Sports Section reporting on the test match between the West Indies and India in Antigua.
The good Lord have mercy, such description I firmly believed was high praise only fitting for the best of the best batsman ever to appear in International Cricket – Rohan Babulall Kanhai.
Having not seen Bravo’s skills – I would not know where he ranks – but I am certain there will never be another cricketer in the class of Garfield Sobers. Stop it with this Bravo nonsense, already.
Cricket fans have run amock promoting batsmen of recent vintage such as Richards, Lara, and now Bravo above and beyond the heroes of the past such as Headley, Weekes, Walcott, Worrell, Sobers, Kanhai, Hunte, Butcher, Nurse, Lloyd, Fredericks, Rowe and Kallicharran. In fact, many modern day cricket fans are not familiar with the exploits of the very best of West Indies test batsman ship they would be hard pressed to identify the image of Rohan Kanhai.
Indeed a fan from Saint Vincent asked me whether Kanhai was from India or Sri Lanka. The striking thing was the twenty five-year-old fan identified Weekes, Worrell, Walcott, Sobers and Lloyd, but not the others. Again, he seemed horrified. I did not consider his cricketing heroes cricketers of merit. Simply, could not understand the magic which Kanhai exhibited at the crease with his bat. I showed him, the image in which Kanhai is on his rear end after hooking the ball. That did it. He will lookup the artistry of Rohan. However, still persisted with thoughts of Hooper, Chandrapaul and Sarawan as among the great Guyanese players. I could not disagree more. I cannot in right mind accept those three could obtain selection in Guyana teams 1966-1969. Much less the West Indies teams of the pre-helmet era.
This is exactly the sort of experience which is plaguing our people today, the past is being forgotten – and/or not occupying a permanent place in our collective psyche. Those batsmen are the cream of the crop of great batsmen. Richards belong in such company. Perhaps, Clifford Roach, Robert Christiani, and Collie Smith are in that upper echelon of great West Indian batsmen. Does Lara merit such esteem company? Certainly Bravo is not in that class. Will he get there? Who knows? Your thoughts – share them with me – will you?
Eternal Blessings, Love, Peace, Power & Unity
M'lilwana Osanku - Sancho of Nabaclis.
Researching - Sancho, Campbell, Young (Younge), Solomon, Ross & Martin - Families of Guyana.
History of Golden Grove and Nabaclis Village District, East Sea Coast Demerara, Guyana.
"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." The Most Honourable Marcus Garvey (1887-1940)
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