It is no secret that I have a special preference to Test cricket and secondly 50-over competitive matches, and much of my interest comes from the Test matches which are played in the more advanced cricket countries such as India, Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand.
Well, the first Test between India versus West Indies had provided me with sufficient evidence that are potentially promising batsmen and bowlers are being deprived of the technical and tactical beauty of the great game.
When the Indians batted first, the wicket was as smooth as silk and with a predictable bounce from the very first ball.
The individual technique of their top batsmen, from sturdy defensive to attacking shots around the ground, add to that the well-timed singles which are cleverly taken in order to create balance in their batting. The communication pattern between partners at the wicket, plus the absolute recognition of respect for good deliveries bowled by our bowlers.
Admittedly, we have seen moderate portions of intelligence in the bowling department, and the percentage of good deliveries as opposed to the poor ones, have been recognised by the score of over 600 runs in the first and only innings.
The perfect wicket was the major challenge for the West Indian batsmen and the approach should have been similar to the likes of Virat Kholi and company.
This was where the absence of solidity in their batting seemed to be affected by the swiping habits of the top-line batters in our crew. It was an apologetic display of batting in an arena where the quality of cricket should have been of paramount excellence. To go into the details about our batting may be better described by the likes of Gordon Greenidge, Brian Lara and Bryan Davis, soon after the tears in their eyes were discontinued by the end of what should have been a five-day match.
May I humbly suggest that the route to success must come from the experts of the various departments of the game?
We must stop protecting the deficiencies of the top “batsmen”, many of whom do not understand the technical details of the various aspects of the great game. Players like Sir Everton Weekes, Garry Sobers, Lara, Viv Richards, and the once exquisite Lawrence Rowe, we miss you dearly.
Vice-captain Kraigg Braithwaite thought it necessary to let the fans know that the batsmen must improve their batting if West Indies has to be successful.
I wonder if the acting skipper accepts that the lessons should start from work done by coaches. A player who is not dealing with competence in the department of his game should speak to his coach or any coach he may recognise as knowledgeable. The second Test was negatively similar to the first, which attracted a comment made by skipper Jason Holder asking the batsmen to bat better. There was no explanation in the comment from the leaders, so the result was the same.
Have these current cricketers reached the age of swell headedness where their caps are too tight? Every match played must be followed by lessons regarding every portion of the game.
I shall continue to watch and hope that what Braithwaite and skipper Holder were trying to improve the application of the batters, referring to themselves as well.
There are many experts around who are all ready and present to assist. Don't be deep in false pride. Get out and seek help. If you don't, the other Test matches may be replicas of the India dilemma.