Tony Becca
SIR VIVIAN RICHARDS is without a doubt the greatest batsman to come out of the Leeward Islands. He is arguably the greatest batsman to come out of the West Indies. He is unquestionably one of the greatest batsmen the world has ever seen, and he has a part to play in getting the West Indies back to the top or near to the top of world cricket, no doubt about that.
Any man who could have batted so well, who could have fielded so brilliantly and who captained the West Indies so successfully, must know the game and should be listened to whenever he speaks.
As great a batsman as he was, however, as brilliant a fielder as he was, as much as he knows the game, and although one should always listen to his words of wisdom, it is not everything Richards says that should be taken as gospel.
Sometimes, probably because of the present state of West Indies cricket, the burning desire to see things change and the eagerness to see things change as quickly as possible, Richards gets carried away.
One such occasion was his suggestion recently that Denesh Ramdin, the 20-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman out of Trinidad and Tobago, be installed as the West Indies captain.
As captain of the West Indies youth team, Ramdin demonstrated that he possesses the qualities of leadership and since getting into the West Indies team, he has done wonderfully well behind and before stumps.
INEXPERIENCED SHOULDERS
It is, however, too early to put such a responsibility on his young, relatively inexperienced shoulders, and for a few simple reasons.
Although others have been Test captains at a similar age, one reason is that Ramdin is not mature enough.
Another reason is that in a society like that of the West Indies it is difficult and would be difficult for one so young to lead older and more experienced players.
Another reason is that he should be left, at his age, to develop his skills, and with West Indies cricket in the state that it is, still another reason is that he could become so punch-drunk with defeats that it could destroy him as a leader and probably as a performer with the gloves and with the bat, before he has fully matured.
Ramdin looks like one for the future and there is little doubt about that.
Common sense, however, suggests that instead of pushing him into a position for which he is not yet ready, a position which could see him looking over his shoulder with disastrous consequences, we should, despite the shortcomings of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, wait on him, at least until he has come to the age of maturity.
We should wait for him until he has confirmed his class, until he has really developed the skills of leadership, until the players accept him as a leader, as their leader, and therefore as their captain.
If and when that time comes, probably in another two years or so, Ramdin will be ready, not only to lead, but also to lead confidently. He certainly would then not be looking over his shoulder at Chanderpaul, at current vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, at Christopher Gayle, or even, if he gets back into the Test team, at Wavell Hinds.
