COMMENTARY

New low for Windies as England moves ahead in Test Series

by Philip Hackett

Philip Hackett

Monday, March 15, 2004

The psychological trauma that characterised West Indies' ill fated tour of South Africa appeared to have followed them to Sabina Park on Sunday.

After competing on virtually even keel with England over the first three days of the opening Test match, West Indies capitulated on the fourth morning for 47, their lowest score ever in Test cricket, thereby condemning themselves to defeat before lunch on the fourth day.

It was a disheartening performance in front of frustrated West Indies fans who turned out in large numbers and those following at home in the Caribbean and other parts of the world by television, radio, the internet and whatever other means possible.

For almost a decade West Indian cricket lovers have had to endure timid performances on tour but have maintained some optimism for the future of West Indies cricketers through the efforts of the team at home. After the recent thrashing in South Africa an improved performance was crucial against England to restore some faith in the team and to ease the pressure on administrators, selectors and players constantly under fire from discouraged and sometimes 'fair weather' supporters.

West Indies may yet produce a sterling performance to win or at least earn a draw in this series but after the debacle at Sabina it will be difficult to imagine England surrendering the vice like grip they now have on the West Indies psyche, even if not on the series as yet.

It is that seemingly fragile psyche that has been the subject of so much debate over the years as West Indies underachieved away from the Caribbean while maintaining much of their competitiveness on home soil. Chairman of selectors, the former West Indies captain Sir Viv Richards, voiced his opinion recently during the semi final match of the Carib Beer International Shield. Speaking during the CMC Cricket Plus broadcast of the Barbados Guyana match, Richards offered an explanation for the contrasting performances by West Indies home and away.

"I believe it is a psychological thing. Some people believe it is not always times you are going to address the cricket itself but you've got to get into the guys minds, how they think as well because when you look at some of the performances we would have had-I am now making a comparison at this point-where we scored 418 runs to beat the very great Australian team. When you can accomplish that, we beat them in three one days on the trot, that's saying a lot but when we look at the period of times that we have beaten them, the horse would have been already in full stride and we've got to rise above that," Sir Viv said.

"If we can start off the series well that I think is great, not maybe when it's all lost and maybe guys have become a little more relaxed when everything is lost there is nothing to play for but sometimes pride and personal self and all that stuff. It gives you the feeling it is psychological."

West Indies now find themselves again playing catch up and it remains to be seen whether they will be mentally strong enough to recover before it is too late.

That England should be credited for a superb display is not in doubt but the lack of fight in the home camp is major cause for concern. Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain demonstrated what can be accomplished with a little application and courage while the England bowlers led by fast bowler Steve Harmison maximised the bowling potential in a pitch designed for entertaining, competitive cricket. Congratulations to them and their captain Michael Vaughan.

Eternal optimist will remember West Indies recovering from similar calamity to draw with Australia after scoring what at that point was their lowest score ever when they faltered for 51 in Trinidad in 1999. England started the 1990 tour in similar fashion with a win in the first Test at Sabina but West Indies recovered to win the series. That's all history. What is relevant now is the approach of the two teams in the remaining three matches. England must guard against complacency and maintain momentum while West Indies must dig deep and overcome any psychological deficiencies.

It is ironic that this humiliation comes on the eve of the inaugural awards ceremony to be held by the West Indies Players' Association. The event is designed to reward cricketers who have excelled in the game on and off the field over the last year. The list of nominees can hardly be very long.

Philip Hackett is a freelance sports journalist who has covered international cricket matches for the Nation Newspaper in Barbados as well as the CMC (formerly CANA). Hackett is also a well-respected cricket radio commentator who has covered Test matches for the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation as well as numerous regional first class matches. He has also provided print media and electronic media coverage of table tennis throughout the region. Hackett is a physical education teacher and has worked in Bermuda, Barbados and now the Cayman Islands. He is a qualified international table tennis coach, having received his training in Hungary and a Level one cricket coach. Hackett holds a Masters degree in education from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

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