THE LAST TIME that I wrote about West Indies cricket I noted that My Friend P had taken the ultimate decision he has stopped watching the team play.
Lucky man.
Well, here I am again, West Indian to the core and I am vexed. I am so vexed I can hardly write this column. How does the West Indies cricket team get bowled out for 47 by England? Jesus, this must be a dream! A dream followed by the nightmare with four of the team members going over to the 'non-purist-cricket-Red-Stripe-mound' to celebrate their pathetic performance. The team is a set of 'wutliss bwoys'
Recommendation: The four twits - Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice captain to boot!), Chris Gayle, Adam Sanford, and Tino Best, should be immediately dropped from the squad for this tour. When considered for the next tour it should be with a 25 percent reduction on their salaries.
And again I ask how is it possible that Ricky Skerritt can be allowed, poor performance after poor performance poor displays of discipline after poor displays of discipline how the razzle dazzle is this man the manager of the team?!
Listen to Skerritt's defence of the 'almshouse' by the four cricketers: "I am not going to discuss anything. Because they were on the mound does it mean they were partying?' published in THE STAR yesterday.
Oh no Mr. Skerritt, Messers Sarwan, Gayle, Sanford and Best trekked across to the mound -- some 200 yards from their dressing room in the opposite direction of the team bus -- to console the fans there. Hmmm, or better yet, someone told them the nets had been moved over to the mound and they went there to get in some well-needed batting practice. Or they heard that there was fluid there that could drown their sorrows and they went rushing over to get some. Or finally, they thought the loud sounds of music from the Renaissance sound system could silence the replays in their sorry minds, of the cheering Britons when they were being scuttled out for 47 runs!
Party? please no
Oh no Mr. Skerritt, who could ever even think that they went over to the mound to 'party'. What activity on the mound would ever bring any rational person to that conclusion?
Of course, Mr. Skerritt would never have thought the four were there having a gay time that is why the West Indies Cricket Board issued an apology - because he did not think the players did anything wrong. So the quote issued on Sunday evening: 'The team further apologises for the inappropriate conduct of four members of the team who were seen in a party stand following the loss --' means -- what? Can someone, anyone, save us from this man!
I am trying to understand what is allowing sponsors Cable and Wireless to continue to support this unit of wanna-be-losers. As a major corporate sponsor, Cable and Wireless is being done an injustice by West Indies Cricket. It would be a proper wake up call if this sponsor decided to pull some dollars from beneath this teams feet - wouldn't it ? Yes, I am suggesting this.
Shame is a very active thing for most people who have it. So if I were a member of that team, even the 12th man, I would have been keeping a pretty low profile on Sunday afternoon after participating in the record setting embarrassment of 47 all out. Someone at a senior level ought to have been embarrassed enough to step aside too.
But what am I thinking? To have shame ---- you kinda need to have pride first. Sorry readers, I stand corrected.
I am glad that Young R was not at Sabina Park on Sunday because he might want to become a Brit - and he can!.
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myfriendp@hotmail.com
