Windies blow hot and cold

I have no doubt the non-selection of yet another bunch of so-called rebels has caused a mass furore in the Caribbean. West Indian cricket supporters are like no other.

In the various rum shops, on street corners and in beach bars sprinkled around the islands, discussions will be going for on for hours on end. You see, West Indians have very strong views on most things and cricket is a game they live for. Don’t be surprised if, until this latest chaotic scenario is resolved, spectators by the thousands boycott the Test matches.

Remember it has happened twice before when South Africa toured the Caribbean. Way back in April 1992 when the national team led by Kepler played their first Test since re-admission, hardly a spectator arrived at the game in Bridgetown Barbados when local boy Anderson Cummins was overlooked by the selectors. Again in 2001 when South Africa played the first Test in Guyana, spectators voted with their feet when Guyana’s favourite son Carl Hooper was dropped as skipper in favour of Brian Lara.

The passion displayed by cricket fanatics in that vast region is a sight to behold.

I would not be at all surprised if there are still some fascinating developments and possible re-instatements before the first of four Tests gets underway in Guyana on the 31st of March.

West Indians don’t take any prisoners and ‘respect’ is a way of life.

As it stands at the moment the South African team will be going head to head with a new line-up. Stars such as Lara, Gayle, Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Sarwan and Dwayne Smith will not be in action initially. That obviously makes forward planning difficult. A new leader will toss the coin on that first Test morning and Guyanese born Shivnarine Chanderpaul will become the sixth West Indies captain since Richie Richardson replaced Viv Richards in 1992.

He may get some support at home but the litmus test will come if he also leads the team at the expense of Lara for the second Test in ‘Laratown’, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Most concerning for the home team will be that seven players who have not been able to nail down a regular berth, after many years of trying, will yet again be fronting up. This means the likes of Darren Ganga, Reon King, Darren Powell, Wavell and Ryan Hinds, Devon Smith and Jerome Taylor will be on show again and this is quite clearly a retrogressive step.

So who are the newcomers? Twenty year-old Dwight Washington, who hails from Jamaica, is an imposing 6 foot 5 inch fast bowler who will relish the chance to continue the proud tradition of Jamaican quicks. The exciting Narsingh Deonarine from Guyana, who is a left-handed middle order batsman of notable talent and also an off-spinner, will express his ability in front of his adoring home crowd. The last of the rookies is Jamaica’s attacking right-handed batsman, Donovan Pagon.

This latest development will definitely test the resolve of the West Indies Cricket Board as well as the population of the islands.

West Indies cricket often blows hot and cold and it currently appears that a very cold front is approaching their shores!