Football may be known as 'the beautiful game', basketball's pace can hardly be matched and the grace and fluidity that is seen in tennis is unrivalled. But the game of cricket is unique for its romantic appeal and aesthetic nature. It is perhaps the only game where one can love and enjoy many a facet such as the sheer artistry of great batsmen, the irresistible charm of watching the best fast bowlers whilst appreciating the skills of great spinners and gasp at the amazing skills of top fielders. The game allows for great interactions and its history is full of fascinating anecdotes involving many a legend. Few teams and individuals can claim to have even come close to wooing and charming many a viewer the world over like the Caribbean kings did for almost half a century. The game has in its 130 years seen glorious batsmen including the incomparable Don Bradman, the unmatched run accumulator Jack Hobbs, the languid and graceful David Gower, India's batsman nonpareil Sunil Gavaskar and the prodigy Sachin Tendulkar. Great bowlers such as Harold Larwood, Lindwall and Miller, Lillee and Thomson, Imran Khan, the blond genius Shane Warne among others have stamped their authority on the game. So one is definitely justified in asking what makes the Caribbean teams and players so unique in the annals of the sport?
The mass appeal of West Indian cricket goes way back in time and transcends the boundaries of sport. The oppression and torture the people had endured made people the world over respect them and appreciate their achievements. Cricket gave the people an ideal platform to unite and showcase their incredible natural talent and exceptional athletic ability. It was and perhaps still is the only sport which brings people from all the islands together.
The West Indians made their entry into cricket in the late 1920's and played England. The sense of pride and professionalism was yet to set in but the talent and skill was more than evident. The brilliant and prodigious batsman George Headley and the gifted all rounder Learie Constantine played key roles in the early years. By the late 1940's the West Indians had in their ranks three of the greatest players the game has ever seen- Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott or simply the 3 W's. Each of them was a brilliant batsman and hailed from the island of Barbados which went on to produce many more legends. The team was slowly beginning to produce exceptional talents and also consistent wins thus making them a true threat. Wesley Hall and Charlie Griffith, the legendary fast bowling pair had arrived on the scene and their blinding pace terrorized batsmen the world over.
The late 1950's saw the rise of possibly the most gifted player the game has ever seen or will see. The once in a generation all rounder Garfield Sobers enthralled audiences with his breathtaking batting, brilliant bowling and his sublime fielding skills. He still is in everyone's mind, the finest all rounder ever. The year 1960 saw Frank Worrell lead his team to play Australia who were then the top team. This series came to be regarded the finest ever and Worrell, who was incidentally the first black captain went on to earn lavish praise and accolades from one and all for his fair play and spirit. He was single handedly responsible for uniting all the islands of the Carbbean, getting them to shed their domestic rivalries and stand as one. He had the great ability to mentor the finest and bring out their talents. He had truly paved the way for the next generation of Caribbean legends.
The 1970's and 1980's were probably the finest two decades for the team. Clive Lloyd took over the captaincy after the legendary Sobers and led the team on a very gruelling tour of Australia in 1975-76. The team was trounced 5-1, but the key aspect was that Lloyd had discovered that a barrage of fast bowling would be the way to dominate the game. He assembled an exceptional set of fast bowlers in Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft and later the exceptional Malcolm Marshall. The unbelievable aspect was that there were scores of bowlers waiting in the wings without a chance to get in. The team dominated the game like none other and in Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge and Clive Lloyd, it had three of the world's best players. In England in 1976, a daft racist remark by the English captain Tony Greig irked the West Indian fast bowlers and they unleashed a fearful attack on the batsmen. Despite this hostile approach they were only feared the world over but never disliked. They did the job on the field and never resorted to any invective and sledging. The batsmen were respected and unlike most cases, the dominance of the team was appreciated the world over. The geniality and sporting nature of the team was there for all to see. They lorded over the one day format as well crushing others en route to the first two world cup trophies.
Viv Richards, with his swagger and gum chewing calm was the greatest and most feared batsman of his era and became a hero worldwide. His dismantling of bowlers was a sight to behold. Michael Holding's bowling stood out for its hostility and pace masked by sublime motion and incredible smoothness. The Caribbeans had taken the world by storm and they were to most people the most liked and appreciated.
The late 1980's gave little evidence to suggest that the hegemony was coming to an end. The dominance had waned in the one day format but in tests, the team still ruled the world. In the mid 1990's, the dazzling Brian Lara of Trinidad& Tobago stamped his class by erasing record after record. His incredible eye and quicksilver footwork left audiences amazed and opponents stunned. But the team as a whole had very little else to show. Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh formed probably the finest fast bowling pair in the 1990's but reality began to stir. The team was trounced by every team around and the performances were quite pathetic. Brian Lara as only he can single handedly took on the all conquering Australians and saved the series in 1999 but the image was very clear now. The cricket system in the Caribbean was taking a beating and the world realized it. The Calypso beats and sound of drums which had so charmed people was not there any more and the dwindling audiences and lack of quality players showcased a grim future ahead.
The administration in the West Indies has become outright pathetic and frequent clashes and pay disputes have led to players striking and second string teams being sent for games. The influence of T-20 cricket has also created a division in the nation and Test cricket which made the team so much more attractive no longer seems to find a favor there. It is rather painful to watch such a proud cricketing nation which in its pinnacle ruled the world being reduced to such a pitiable state. The heart longs for a quick resolution to all the problems that plague the cricket in the West Indies and their renaissance in the game, but the mind probably knows that the best times are behind us now and it is almost impossible to expect the same again. The game is undoubtedly a lot poorer without the Calypso charm!
