Tony BeccaTHE BUSTA series match between Jamaica and Guyana opens at Sabina Park today and for both teams the most important thing will be victory.
From the toss of the coin, the only thing on the minds of both sets of players will be how to win the match, and that is natural. It is natural because winning is important; and winning is important because a match is a contest and not a net session, because a contest is to prove who is better, and because winning, in most cases, is what proves who is better.
On top of that, everyone loves to win - including the West Indies selectors, everyone loves a winner - including the West Indies selectors, and nothing encourages development more than a winning atmosphere.
There are, however, other good reasons why winning a Busta Series match, the Cup, or the Shield is so important, and regardless of their passion for West Indies cricket, regardless of their good intentions, the West Indies selectors, those who are talking about territorial selectors paying too much emphasis on winning instead of development, should understand that.
Winning is important to the coaches who want to see the fruits of their labour.
Winning is important to the territorial selectors who were selected to do a job and who do not want to be labelled as people who cannot properly assess things like skill and temperament.
Winning is important to the sponsors who, like everyone else, do not like to back losers, and especially in this day of nationalism, winning is important to the fans.
Winning is also important to the players who enjoy a level of satisfaction when they win and who sometimes get some money when they win.
Winning, however, is probably most important to the territorial boards.
It is most important for the simple reason that they need the winner's cash prize in order to survive.
As hosts of this Busta Series match for example, the Jamaica Cricket Board of Control receives US$10,000 from the West Indies Board for match expenses and although on the surface that looks like a lot of money, it is not.
Apart from the expenses for its own team, apart from paying the umpires, match referee and the laison officers, the JCBC has to pick up such things as the hotel accommodation, meals, ground transportation and laundry of the visiting team.
Guyana, with a party of 13 players, a manager and a coach, arrived on Tuesday, they will be here until Tuesday, and that means eight days in a Kingston hotel.
For those who do not believe so, winning regional cricket matches is important to West Indies cricket. It is important, not only because the will to win is a vital part of the development process, not only because it encourages performance and separates the men from the boys, and not only because it motivates coaches and selectors.
It is also important because losers will have no sponsors and no fans, the ripple effect would affect West Indies cricket, and without sponsors and fans there could be no West Indies and therefore no West Indies team - certainly not one that can win.
