THE FOLLOWING is an Editorial which was published by the Jamaica Observer on Saturday.
SO-CALLED minnows Bangladesh and Zimbabwe apart, the West Indies cricket team has not won a Test match in overseas conditions since late 2007 when they whipped South Africa in the opening game of a three-Test series they eventually lost.
That historical fact should be at the forefront as the West Indies visit Sri Lanka for a two-Test series next month.
As is usually the case for a West Indies team overseas, the hosts will start favourites. However, the Sri Lankans will undoubtedly feel a degree of vulnerability following the retirement of their greatest ever batsman, Mr Kumar Sangakkara, in August.
Last year, another great, the supremely elegant Mr Mahela Jayawardene had also walked away.
Without doubt, the Sri Lankans, led by their dynamic 27-year-old all-rounder Mr Angelo Mathews, remain a major force. But surely there is a good opportunity here for this West Indies team to improve their Test match status overseas.
The Caribbean team was buoyed by their come-from-behind 1-1 drawn home series against England earlier this year. However, morale was hit hard by the follow-up 0-2 loss to Australia. But even then, knowledgeable cricket-watchers recognised that, in the second Test against Australia at Sabina Park, West Indies were virtually beaten even before the game started. That’s because of injury/illness of key players, Messrs Marlon Samuels, Devendra Bishoo and Shannon Gabriel. In the upcoming series, in Sri Lanka, much will depend on how the West Indies with an array of very young players are able to pull together as a team and cope with conditions.
All eyes will be on the new captain, Mr Jason Holder. He is only 23 years old and has just eight Test matches behind him. Yet his appointment as Test captain came as no great surprise to those who follow cricket closely.
That’s because Mr Holder, a Barbadian, has been exemplary as player, team member, leader, and gentleman since his promotion to the West Indies team.
Chairman of selectors Mr Clive Lloyd placed his own credibility on the line when Mr Holder was appointed to lead the West Indies into the ICC Cricket World Cup earlier this year. This was against the backdrop of fallout from the catastrophic abandonment of the West Indies tour of India in 2014.
In metaphorical terms, all the cricketing world stood and applauded Mr Holder’s performance as leader of that One-Day team.
Since then, he has done very well as bowler, batsman, and fielder in the Tests against England and Australia. As the West Indies look to build for the future, handing the leadership of the Test team to Mr Holder was the logical thing to do.
A number of young players whom Mr Holder knows very well from the days of age-group cricket will be under his command. But crucially, he must also have the full support of senior players including outgoing Captain Mr Denesh Ramdin.
Also, Mr Holder will do well to heed the advice of former South African captain Mr Graeme Smith who, 15 years ago, was made captain of South Africa at 22. Mr Smith has suggested that, in order to succeed, Mr Holder should seek to separate the politics of West Indies cricket from the cricket itself.
It will be tough, but if Mr Holder is somehow able to do that, he may well be remembered as one of the great West Indies captains. (Observer)