Tony Becca, Contributing Editor
Lara
PORT OF SPAIN:
WHEN IT comes to atmosphere at a cricket match, there is no place like Queen's Park Oval, and yesterday, on the second day's play of the second Test of the Dicigel Series between the West Indies and South Africa, it was as good as it has ever been - even though hometown hero, Brian Lara, missed a double century by a mere four runs.
After promising that they would not boycott the match in response to the non-selection of Lara as captain, the fans, who gave new captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul a wonderful ovation when he stepped onto the field on his way to the crease on the first day, were true to their word.
Although there have been larger Saturday crowds at the Oval, yesterday's crowd was good and based on the cheers, for both the West Indies and South Africa, that echoed around the ground, the fans enjoyed the day's play.
Trinidadians are not people who forget easily, however, they still remember the impasse involving the board, the players, sponsors past and present, and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).
They also still remember that a number of players were not invited to make themselves available for the first Test match, they are looking at Chanderpaul and not Lara captaining the West Indies team, and yesterday they made a silent protest.
Among the advertising signs around the ground were four banners that expressed what Trinidadians were thinking and what they wanted.
One banner, hanging from the front rail on bottom deck of the triple decker Carib Beer Stand, read, in large red letters, 'This Is Not Digicel Country' and another, right beside it and in large bold blue letters, read, 'Commission Of Enquiry Into WICB and Digicel Contract'.
On the opposite side of the ground, there were two more banners, one read, in large green letters, 'Selection And Captain On Merit, Not Sponsorship', and right beside it was another which also read, and again in large blue letters, 'Commission Of Enquiry Into WICB and Digicel Contract'.
The signs were removed shortly after lunch when their presence was brought to the attention of the ground authorities.
There was also another protest in the form of another banner which, however, was not removed.
Hanging from the rails of the second deck of the Carib Beer Stand was a banner which read, 'No Aussies 4 D Windies'.
