West Indies cricket

The West Indies victory over Pakistan on Sunday was a lifesaver for the Caribbean team. If we had lost that match, after keeping the visitors at bay on the first day, and almost throwing it away on the second, leaving us with a sleepless night on the third, it would have been an absolute write-off for the Windies.

Walking through the plaza last weekend, I noticed that nobody was listening to the radio commentary. Stark contrast to earlier times when you could ask anyone, "What's the score?" and earphones would be plugged out to give a fulsome report on the run of play.

Cricket broadcasting serves to raise the level of excitement for the listening audience. We have been blessed with some first-class commentators who have the ability to paint a picture of what is happening on the field, as well as provide the most delightful snapshots of incidents over the boundary.

That magic moment when a truly great bowler starts his run-up is best described by the cricket seer John Arlott writing about one of Australia's greatest bowlers. "From two walking paces, Lindwall glides into the 13 running strides which have set the world a model for rhythmic gathering of momentum, for speed-giving power. Watching him approach the wicket, Sir Pelham Warner was once moved to murmur, 'Poetry.'"

The same for Michael Holding's silent, swift, superb motion as he ran towards the wicket. And who can forget the roar of excitement that always followed Wes Hall as he delivered the first ball from the southern end of Sabina Park?

Our gifted commentators delight in highlighting the peculiarities of the play and teasing our imagination. Ivan Barrow once told us, "It's a shorter ball and it has the batsman doing the hop, step and jump." Roy Lawrence gave us this infamous but delightful gaffe, "He scored six runs out of that over, five of which were singles." Not to speak of the naughty and irreverent mention made (was it by Arlott?) of the number of maidens being bowled all around the ground.

This morning, no matter how we have criticised the team and the West Indies Cricket Board, interest in the WI's fortunes has been revived, and faith and hope are burning in the hearts of cricket fans across the region. The realists will caution and make their sage predictions. They are right. But there is a little blip of optimism, and we have recharged our batteries, tuned the cable channels, phoned friends, and are on our way to, yet again, we know not what.

team spirit resurrected

I make no predictions for the second Test, but we are encouraged by the team spirit which has been resurrected by the clinical victory on Sunday, so ably executed and led by Captain Sammy. Let us hope that this time we don't seize defeat out of the jaws of victory.

Cricket, ah, cricket, once the balm of the troubled West Indian spirit. Those who continue to tinker with and juggle personalities in and out of the team at the expense of our winning ways need to understand what cricket has meant to the West Indian psyche. "What do they know of cricket who only cricket know?" quizzed C.L.R. James in his book, Beyond A Boundary. As we focus on the game and its technicalities, we tend to forget its use and contribution as an instrument of social transformation in West Indian development.

We continue to miss the boat by not utilising our sports achievements, models, stories and legends for nation building. Think of what it would do for Jamaica, and for cricket, especially at this moment of 'who-is-a-don' controversy, if we were to make George Headley a national hero.

His cricket record stands by itself, but it was his dignity, character, talents and selflessness that represented the hopes and aspirations of the masses, as we forged our way towards nationhood and independence. He has been singled out as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, cricketers that ever lived.

Lindell Wright and his new Jamaica Cricket Association board members may want to consider making the name of this icon the game-changer for Jamaica and West Indies cricket.