BARBADOS’ cricket selectors should be applauded for their swift and decisive action to discipline pacer Tino Best for his verbal outburst this week while in training. They have sent a strong and much needed message that they will not tolerate acts of indiscipline from any of their players regardless of their value to the team.
The exuberant fast bowler was slapped with a one-match suspension for his “unprofessional” display when showing his disapproval of fitness drills conducted by strength and conditioning trainer Shannon Lashley at Kensington Oval on Wednesday. That pulled him from his certain spot in the team to oppose the England Lions in this weekend’s second-round West Indies Cricket Board regional four-day match which started yesterday at Kensington.
Equally commendable though is Best’s maturity to promptly apologise publicly for his transgression. He clearly recognized his actions were unbecoming of a professional sportsman and did the right thing by saying “sorry”.
“I wasn’t comfortable with the way the trainer was training us. I should have gone a different route. I got a little hot-headed. It is something I am trying to control. I said some words to her that were unbecoming of a professional cricketer. I was wrong,” a contrite Best said in an interview with the WEEKEND NATION.
“I am being punished with a one-match suspension and I would like to apologize to Barbados, my teammates, the Barbados Cricket Association, my family, friends and fans from the bottom of the heart,” he added.
Best patched up his differences with team management on Thursday and joined the rest of the players in training. He also promised to be in the nets bowling over the weekend with coach Vasbert Drakes in an effort to retain his sharpness for the remainder of the competition.
What is noteworthy is that Best pointed out “at the beginning of the year I did an interview about my improved attitude. I don’t want to be a hypocrite by saying something and going against what I said”.
The question now is where do we go from here?
This is not the first time Best has been in trouble with the authorities. Though he acknowledged he behaved inappropriately, the fact he reacted in the manner in which he did, despite earlier brushes with officialdom, suggests he needs assistance to curb this aspect of his personality.
Possibly a period of counselling may be helpful to Best, as it has been for Barbados captain Ryan Hinds. A few years ago Hinds was stripped of the captaincy and underwent a period of counselling. He has now been reinstated and has demonstrated the value of the selectors’ confidence in him.
This incident brings into sharp focus the important work of how we prepare our next generation of cricketers. In this regard the Sagicor West Indies High Performance Centre is critical. It must not only focus on developing the cricket prowess of each of its young charges, but must work on inculcating the values of discipline and respect for authority to help these young men to grow into world-class professionals.
Increasingly it is clear that natural talent is not the only quality our cricketers need to help us regain the top spot in the world rankings. Skill, mental toughness, and discipline are equally critical.
