West Indies captain Brian Lara is embraced by a fan as he did a lap of honour among the fans at the Kensington Oval in Barbados after the Cricket World Cup Super Eights match against England. - Reuters

Kari Alana Morrison, Contributor

What is it that the people of the West Indies want from the Windies cricket team? Nothing, but a darn fight.

They don't have to win all the time, we just want them to fight hard and hustle all the time. As a people, we have so much talent that if they really hustle and really put their hearts in it, the Windies might surprise themselves with much better ranking.

I find the cricket team a lot like West Indian men - inconsistent, partially fulfilled, commitment-phobic beings who would rather lose without a fight than fight to win. You see, it's easier (in a psychologically warped way) to say, "I lost but I wasn't really trying hard," than to put your whole heart into something and lose. But life is not for cowards.

The 'coward's way out' is not only confined to suicide, but also to conceding defeat even before the game of life has even begun. Nobody was promised sunshine and abundance every day. It's what we do when we face adversity that truly reveals character.

As with love, one cannot expect to have the passion without the responsibility. That which brings sheer happiness sometimes delivers some serious curve balls.

A good woman does not want her man to be perfect, just to stand up andbe a man. He does not have to bring home more money, just have ambition. She does not need him to be there all the time, just to be there mentally and emotionally when he is there physically. She does not need material justification, just devotion, and commitment.

When it comes to cricket, just like it is in love, it's either all, or absolutely nothing. Anything less is simply purgatory.

Having said all that, I still wholeheartedly "rally round the Windies." And, like so many West Indian women do when in love - in spite of their varied faults, we stand by our men.

karialana@gmail.com