PORT OF SPAIN – A West Indies Cricket Board director foresees a difficult time ahead for new Test captain Denesh Ramdin, and says the wicketkeeper/batsman has inherited a “crown of thorns”.
Trinidadian Baldath Mahabir told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper that while Ramdin was capable of handling the position, he warned that leading West Indies was never “an easy assignment”.
Not only would Ramdin be called on to fulfil three aspects of his game – wicketkeeper, batting and captaining – but Mahabir pointed out he now had to face the challenge of pulling the team together as a single unit.
“I think that Denesh has inherited a ‘crown of thorns.’ He has inherited a crown that is not easy to wear and we think that he is capable and hence [that is ] why he has been given the opportunity,” Mahabir said.
“It is never an easy job to lead men from different backgrounds. Ramdin has to command respect from the guys and the best way to do this is to go about his job in such a way, so as to earn it.”
Ramdin was appointed to lead the Test side last Friday after Windward Islands all-rounder Darren Sammy was axed after nearly four years in charge.
With New Zealand arriving in the Caribbean at month-end for a three-Test series, Mahabir said Ramdin’s first priority would be to make a winning start in his first series as skipper.
“We have a good record against them in the Caribbean and he would want to get a win to start off his tenure as leader,” said Mahabir.
Meanwhile, former chairman of selectors Mike Findlay says there is no guarantee the change of captain will result in a turnaround in the Test team’s fortunes.
“In fairness to the selectors, they are in a desperate situation now . . . . Sammy was put as captain with the hope that he would improve the performance of the team. It materialised very briefly.
“The move [to replace him] is a hope rather than anything else, because let’s face it, performance is what is important and the West Indies team has not been performing,” Findlay told the Trinidad Express newspaper.
With the latest move leaving West Indies with different captains for each of the three formats, Findlay believes only two captains are necessary.
“I think the two captains are ideal, one for Twenty20s and one-days and one for the Tests,” the 70-year-old said.
“If you have three captains it’s always difficult because they have different ways of leading, so you will always be adjusting to the leadership on the field of three people.” (EZS/CMC)
