Something to really celebrate

Tony Becca

THE West Indies have ticked off another series victory, and every West Indian is happy.

It was so close, however, that it could have gone either way. In fact, based on the evidence that Saqlain's offbreak did spin off Courtney Walsh's bat, onto his pad and into the hand of Imran Nazir at short-leg with the West Indies on 200 for nine, the West Indies were lucky when it mattered most.

The celebration, therefore, probably should not be for the victory, but for a wonderful performance by a team which started as the under dog, fought a good fight, gradually reduced the odds until it was even money, and then snatched victory in a gripping, heart-stopping climax.

In other words, even if the West Indies had lost the third Test and thus the series, their performance was such that West Indians would still have reason to be happy and to celebrate.

And the reasons are many.

Fired by the leadership of James Adams who certainly set the pace as far as effort, determination and the will to win are concerned, and well prepared by the coach Roger Harper and assistant coach Jeffrey Dujon, the West Indies have demonstrated a fighting spirit second to none, that is what kept them in the fray against a strong team like Pakistan, and after the surrender in South Africa and in New Zealand, that is something to celebrate.

What really impressed during the series, however, and what augurs well for the future of West Indies cricket was the performance of players such as Wavell Hinds and Ramnaresh Sarwan, Reon King and, in his one match, Franklyn Rose.

Hinds was a revelation. Although he was always rated a good batsmen, he had never, certainly not to those outside his circle of friends, been considered a batsman of class.

In four innings, however, two at Kensington Oval and two at the Antigua Recreation Ground, he paraded a level of skill, a temperament and a range of strokes which lifted him out of the ordinary and into the company of the truly gifted.

Only time will tell, but the 23-year-old left-hander has certainly demonstrated a class which should serve West Indies cricket well. And he demonstrated it against a top class attack. His play against the feared right-arm legspinner Mushtaq Ahmed was not only refreshing - it was also brilliant.

Sarwan also revealed that he is some one special. His technique is good, his temperament is also good, and he is an attractive stroke player who uses his feet well. At age 19, he is a nugget.

After years of searching, the West Indies appear to have found two fast bowlers capable of carrying on the rich tradition. King and Rose bowled well, they bowled aggressively, and they appear ready to fulfil their promise.

Another player who impressed was Sherwin Campbell.

An exciting player at the start of his career, Campbell, for some inexplicable reason, had become a strokeless wonder. Starting at Kensington Oval, however, the opening batsman with the super square-cut, played magnificently and his front-foot driving between cover and long-off, long-on and mid-wicket, and his pulls hinted that he is ready to stamp his class on proceedings.

The West Indies are not yet back to where they were a few years ago. In the series against Pakistan, however, they demonstrated that they have the fighting spirit to conquer, and that alongside their old warriors, they possess some exciting talent.

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