West Indies cricket

 

 

 West Indian Cricket is perhaps a little different from cricket in other places. This is because it has evolved and progressed according to the diverse histories and cultures of the different islands.  The west Indian cricket team popularly refrred to as the “windies” was initially represented by the English Caribbean countries. In the 1930’s the representation confined itself to the british colonies and British Guyana. Currently almost all the independent states like Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Trindidad, Tobago to name a few  are represented. Until the 1960’s , the West indian team was dominated only by the whites, it was only later on that the natives came into the picture. The year 1930 saw the Windies play against England when they registered their first win. Learie Constantine turned out to be a devastating bowler.The year  also culminated with a series loss against Australia, but the spirit of the bowlers  and the captain impressed the Aussies. Another landmark as far as west Indian Cricket went was that they ensured that the natives and the whites were housed in the same hotel. Truly a great victory indeed. 



When Englishmen adopted “bodyline “ tactics , they met their match when the West Indian pace bowlers repayed the Englishmen in the same coin. In the year 1934-35, the Windies won the series against England and because of the war, no more cricket was possible till 1948. The West Indies toured Pakistan, Ceylon(now Sri Lnaka) and India and continued with their winning streak. The great batting maestro Everton Weekes , legendary Frank Worrell, and magiocal spinners Sonny Ramdhin and Valentine ensured that the West Indies did not lose the series against England. The Windies took cricket to new heights when the invincible Australia met their match in the Windies. Gary Sobers from Jamaica with his team mates starred in the fixtures.

The year 1960 saw a change in the West Indian set up. They were no longer captained by a White cricketer. Frank Worrell who was selected to lead the West Indies moulded raw, young cricketers and ensured that the Windies became the best in the world. Australia had indeed met its match. Frank Worrell had done the Windies proud. He was succeeded by Gary Sobers with Worrell as Team manager. The 2 fast bowlers Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith struck fear in everyone’s hearts and Lance Gibbs and Gary Sobers followed it with some excellent spin bolwing. The Windies were now regarded as world champions. Sobers continued his scintillating batsmanship and wonderful bowling well after Hall and Griffith left the scene.

 For a spell, the Windies went on the decline when they lost to Australia, England and even to India. Rohan Kanhai who took over as Captain, revived west Indian Cricket a little. Clive lloyd replaced Kanhai and the 1970’s saw the emergence of many fast bowelers. Holding,  Marshall , Croft and Garner were the jewels that studded its bowling line up, and on the batting front Richards, Greenidge, Kallicharan added strength to an already strong batting line up. The Windies remained world champions till the midde of the  1990;s. Curtly Ambrose, Walsh, aand Bishop spearheaded the pace attack when the other bowlers retired and Windies dominated all the other countries for a spell. Because of their strapping build and athleticism, many natives chose volleyball or other ball games. As a result, cricket was deprived of their services and the result was an inevitable “fall”. Chanderpaul, Sarwan and the brilliant  Brian lara entered the scene, but West indian cricket declined. Compounded by fiscal disputes and  a few defeats West Indian Cricket went into doldrums from where it is trying to recover.  :: Authored by M. Hemdev.

 

 

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