SPORT
Despite Lara's 400, there's no sign
of revival for West Indian cricket

by Craig Turp
May 2004

Twenty years ago this summer a West Indian team at the peak of its cricketing powers toured England and annihilated the host side 5-0 in a five-Test series that was dubbed the Blackwash. And while fans of the Mark Taylor/Steve Waugh Australian sides of the past six or seven years will disagree, the Windies team of that balmy summer was in the opinion of this writer the finest ever assembled.

There are few XIs which roll of the tongue so easily: Haynes, Greenidge, Richards, Gomes, Lloyd, Harper, Dujon, Marshall, Holding, Garner and Baptiste; the best opening pair in history, the best fast bowling attack in history, the most solid middle order in history. Though Australia has certainly taken cricket to a new level in terms of fitness, preparation and all round professionalism, it was that West Indian team of cricket revolutionaries ñ years ahead of their time - that paved the way.

How tragic then that West Indian cricket has suffered a steady, if fitful decline almost ever since, reaching its nadir this winter when a mediocre England side toured the West Indies and won a four Test series comfortably, 3-0. Indeed, it was not until the final, dead rubber that the West Indies looked at all interested, when led by Brian Lara's magnificent unbeaten 400, they were unfortunate not to claim a victory.

Lara's innings was a joy, and it broke the two most sacred individual single innings batting records: it was the highest score in Test cricket history (Lara reclaiming a record he had lost to Australia's Matthew Hayden last October), and it was the first ever quadruple century. Yet it must be set in context. The series was lost, and this last match was a question of pride and little else. That Lara, who as captain must take a large amount of the blame for the Windies' current failings, chose this match to find his best form in years is perhaps a tale in itself.

It is important therefore that Lara's unbeaten 400 does not disguise the fact that the Windies are in trouble. The bowling attack is listless, the batting lineup lacks any depth, and the utter lack of talent either in or out of the Test side reflects the sad fact that young people today in Jamaica, Antigua, Trinidad and Barbados are far more likely to be found in the park with a basketball or football than they are a cricket bat. Whereas Clive Lloyd and his band of revolutionaries saw beating England at cricket ñ the imperial game ñ as a matter of duty, so today dreams of playing for Manchester United carry far more weight. Now, that may mean a lot for national, or black consciousness. It is clear that the inferiority complex that drove their fathers to success no longer bug today's West Indians ñ although that is a question for sociologists, not sportswriters to answer - but it is a pity for world cricket. Set in such a context 400 runs in a meaningless Test match suddenly seems of little importance.

Craig Turp is the Managing Editor of Urban Media International, publisher of In Your Pocket City Guides.

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