Since the late 1990s, you’ve witnessed a decline in their cricket. Their Cricket, once a powerhouse of record-breaking sprees and enigmas seems to be functioning on a self-imposed coma. The Lara’s are gone. The Chanderpaul’s, second to none in efficiency and dogged determination are no longer there. But what is, in fact, available to the West Indies is a whole new fleet of talent, in whose hands rests the chance of a recovery.
You don’t need to be tutored on their glory days- a time where merely seeing a Viv Richards or Clive Lloyd in the eye brought about a storming of runs. Where showing the full face of the bat to an Andy Roberts or a Holding signalled an impending danger- lurking somewhere behind the bowling crease. Oh, how the mighty fall. But, now, it seems, the prevailing byline surrounding West Indies Cricket is set for a change.
Surely, even as the West Indies need to walk a thousand mile journey, for the lack of better expression as far as their recovery is concerned (9th in ODI rankings, 8th in Tests), the current feeling in their camp is that the coming 1-2 years might offer something refreshingly new; one to look forward to.
So which are the 5 players in whose hands rests a positive West Indies future
5Jason Holder
He might not be the agilest among West Indian cricketers, but captain Holder has led a young, vastly inexperienced side to important victories in recent times.
Surely, a win and West Indies don’t often seem to be phrases used in the same line, but under the Barbadian’s aegis, things have begun to change.
If 2015’s famous 5-wicket triumph over England at Barbados was an indication of the things to come, then under Holder’s watch, West Indies began what might be called a sparkling new turn of events, hitherto rarely seen in their dismal Test record: winning games on foreign tours.
Last year’s triumph over Pakistan in the UAE saw Holder contribute calmly with the ball in hand, even as it was Brathwaite’s patient but fighting hundred that contributed to an impressive 5-wicket victory at Abu Dhabi.
Having recently drawn a memorable Test at Jamaica where Holder led his troops to battle out Kohli’s India, his side’s impressive win over England at Headingley surely highlights the man’s contribution- not often recognised, only moderately stated in media.
