West Indies Cricket

West Indies cricket rode on the crest of a cricketing wave in the 1970s and 1980s. The calypso cricket circus took the world by storm, led by fearsome fast bowling, glorious batting and athletic fielding.

To this day, their potential for cricketing greatness remains, but rarely delivers.

The rise and fall of West Indies cricket is a fascinating tale of triumph over adversity, a fall from grace, then a new beginning. The cultural and economic development of the islands are major factors, as are political changes in the outside world. Much has been written on this subject, but all commentators are united in hoping the we can all enjoy calypso cricket once again.

Cricketers from twelve different Caribbean island nations are eligible to play for the West Indies. The team plays under a purpose designed flag, but this doesn’t give the advantage of a fierce national identity that drives on other cricketing countries.

The team first played together in the 1890s and were granted test match status in 1928. Cricketers were among the elite, as the islands developed their economies within the colonial framework. But inter island cricket remained amateur, even when professionalism was developed among their international cricket rivals.

Nevertheless, cricket superstars developed and steadily raised the team's playing standard. Garfield Sobers became a global cricket icon in the 1960s, being a graceful world class batsman, seam, spin and fast bowler.

But, after a devastating defeat by Australia in 1976, West Indies cricket moved up several levels. Their captain, Clive Lloyd, took revenge by building a team of ferocious fast bowlers and expansive, free hitting batsmen who simply destroyed all before them for several years. Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding and Joel Garner were the foundations of a formidable team that united the islands and played to win, despite the mediocre financial rewards.

Their slide from grace began in the 1990s, as the Caribbean islands turned away from their colonial heritage, towards the tourist based commercialism of the neighbouring USA. Crucially, basketball became more attractive to potential young cricketers, and although the genius of Brian Lara held the side together for the 1990s and later, the source of their fearsome firepower had dried up. A long running series of contractual disputes with the West Indies Cricket Board further weakened the team’s confidence.

The 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean was a lost opportunity to resurrect West Indian cricket. High ticket prices kept the true West Indian fans out of the matches until too late in the tournament, the calypso atmosphere never materialised, and their team made an early exit from the competition. No inspiration, then, for the young West Indians being drawn toward the USA by the power and spectacle of basketball.

Nevertheless, there are glimmerings of a new beginning for West Indies cricket. A brilliant win over South Africa in the 2007 Boxing Day test showed that the fighting spirit and the talent isn’t far below the surface. They have class batsmen in Chris Gale, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, and sharp opening bowlers in Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell and Fidel Edwards.

A quiet professional revolution is also underway in the islands. The inaugural Stanford 20/20 competition promises to attract big crowds and bring new finances into the game. And the recognition is growing that the calypso cricket attitude is not a substitute for dedication to professional excellence. Both Darren Ganga of the current West Indies team, and Roger Harper, the St Lucia coach and former West Indies player have voiced similar views. Perhaps this grass roots change will be the launch pad for West Indies cricket to emulate the professionalism shown by many of its rivals.

The quiet revolution also needs strong leadership like that shown by Clive Lloyd in the 1970s. It needs that same vision and energy to unite the islands, and to regain the cricketing confidence and the will to win. Calypso cricket still threatens to rise again; the talent is there, it only needs the dedication, confidence and commitment to deliver the goods.