-Western Grandstand- West Indies cricket, shameless and hopeless

When I first fell in love with West Indies cricket as a 13-year-old lad during the 1972 Indian tour of the Caribbean, the then West Indies team was by no means a world-beating outfit. however, we had a competitive team that played with pride and passion, which was enough to make us proud.

Even the 1975-76 team, which got a 5-1 mauling from a powerful Australian unit, which featured the fearsome fast bowling duo of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, did not disgrace us as at different times, players such as Sir Viv Richards, Roy Fredericks, Alvin Kallicharan, Lawrence Rowe, Michael Holding, and Sir Andy Roberts all turned in spectacular performances.

So while we were not winning with alarming regularity, when we lost, we did not buckle over like wimps, showing neither guts nor determination. That was what made it so easy for fans like me to sit up all night and listen to the radio commentary from Australia because we were guaranteed excitement.

Unlike those dedicated teams of the past, the current West Indies team is boring at best, lacking all forms of passion, and most disappointing of all, void of ambition. To compound an already bad situation is the fact that we have a West Indies Cricket Board and a selection panel that are petty, vindictive, and totally ego-driven.

patriotism

While I have stated on numerous occasions that I will no longer be supporting this West Indies team, I have always been held back by my Caribbean pride and the patriotism that comes with it. However, I have now reached a point where I can't take any more of the spineless surrender and gutless performances.

When the West Indies team was selected for the current tour of Australia, I can't say I was expecting them to win, but at least I expected them to show some fight. However, after watching them meekly surrendering in a mere three days in the just-concluded first Test, I have finally reached by embarrassment threshold.

What makes the experience even more hurtful is the fact that not being a subscriber to SportsMax, I had to spend a great deal of time searching the Internet to find a decent feed. At times it was torture as between the buffering of the feed and the team being steamrollered, it was just sad and painful.

vindictive action

Back in 2014, before the debacle in India, I thought the team was showing steady improvement and there was hope. However, with the board resorting to vindictive action to penalise the players who stood up for their rights in India, things have now sunk to an all-time low.

While I understand and appreciate the efforts of CARICOM to rid us of this useless West Indies Cricket Board, I wish a way could be found to speed up the process. Nothing could please me more than to see the blanket resignation of the board and the selectors because in my mind, they are the greatest impediment to progress.

I believe the time has come for us to resign the 'big lie' that the selection of the current youth- dominated team is about rebuilding and not vendetta. Australia has far more talented young players than we do, yet, last year, they gave Adam Voges his Test debut at 35 years old. It is clear that they are about picking the best available talent, not about massaging the overinflated egos of malicious men.

Since I believe it would be wicked of me to continue

punishing myself by continuing to hope that something positive will come out of this hopeless West Indies cricket set-up, I have decided to leave it alone. I will continue to support regional entities such as CARICOM and the University of the West Indies because at least they are symbols of togetherness and pride.

Feedback: afraterfrater@hotmail.com.