THE EDITOR, Madam:
ON THE night of December 26, 2000, it did not matter to me if the West Indies team were all out for less than 50 runs. Neither did it matter if the match finished in 2 days. Watching Campbell and Ganga bat was more torture than seeing them get out without scoring.
I just couldn't bear to see them embarrass themselves and all of us. So I tuned in to watch a game of basketball instead, a game which I enjoy watching, but which has little emotional impact on me, unlike West Indies cricket. This game always has a personal impact on me and many of us West Indians. I think we have been spoilt from watching the West Indies team play positive cricket (win or lose) for so long, that to watch this present team play, makes us sick.
I am saddened to see how tentative most of the batsmen approach their batting with little or no movement of the feet and no use of the brain. While I agree that the Australian bowlers, in particular McGrath, are fine bowlers, it is my opinion that our batsmen (or our cricketers) are their worse opponents.
It is my opinion also that Jimmy Adams is too defensive a person to be an effective captain. His own performance has not been good and like the captains before him, he must share some of the blame for the performance of his team. What we need is someone who the team members feel they must perform for and who the opposition cannot predict so easily.
Given the very poor performances of the team over the past few years, I am sure that were it any other sport, the management team (coaches included) and selectors would have to go.
I am etc.,
VALERIE RAYMOND
E-mail: vepryce@hotmail.com
