Wanted: young players with a passion (24 June 1999)

24 June 1999

Wanted: young players with a passion

The Jamaica Gleaner

It Never fails to happen: whenever the West Indies lose, as they did in the just concluded World Cup, cricket fans around the region not only come up with all sorts of excuses, but they also always blame the Board, the selectors, and sometimes the captain.

The excuses are always that one or two umpiring decisions went against the West Indies, and as far as the Board, the selectors, and the captain are concerned, they simply do not know what they are doing.

The Board, for example, is usually criticised for not doing enough to develop top class players, the selectors always select the wrong players, and the captain, regardless of his experience, never knows what he is doing - including when to bat and when to bowl after winning the toss, how to use his bowlers, and how to set the field.

Although there are times when, like any other team, decisions do go against the West Indies, although the Board needs to act firmly on matters relating to discipline, although the selectors and the captain do make mistakes, those are not the reasons, certainly not the main reasons, for the present state of West Indies cricket.

The main reasons for the West Indies decline in recent years include a decline in interest in the game as reflected in spectator support and the numbers of young boys who play the game; the high cost of playing the game; the lack of funding at the grassroot level; the poor administration at the club and territorial levels.

Unlike days gone by, there is also the absence of people who, having recognised one with exceptional talent, nurture, groom, motivate, and inspire him to greatness.

There is one more, however - one reason which is probably the most important of all, one without which, nothing else matters.

The clubs, the territorial boards, and the West Indies Board need to market the game, to spread the gospel, and in so doing encourage more people to play and to give support.

The private sector, even though they cannot spend all their money on cricket or on sport in general, should support the game more than they now do - especially those who are always talking and criticising both players and administrators. And the governments, most of whom never miss an opportunity to talk about the importance of West Indies cricket to the region, should put more of the people's money into the sport of the people.

The people, those who feel it whenever the West Indies lose, those who criticise volunteer administrators whenever that happens, should support, even by their presence, cricket at the school and club level.

The all-important reason, however, as is evident among the young boys in the society, is that what is really missing are pride, commitment, and the pursuit of excellence.

Great players, in any sport, are not only those who dream, but also those who have pride in performance, and are committed and dedicated to the pursuit of excellence.

Look at champions, and they are people who work untiringly; look at champions, and they are people who are never satisfied; look at champions, and there is a fire in their eyes - a passion to be the best, a burning desire to succeed.

That, apart from and on top of everything else, is what West Indies cricket needs today. West Indies cricket needs young players who are not only talented, who are not only dreamers, but who also who have a passion for the game and a burning desire to succeed.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner