A lot of folks have been encouraging me to resume writing (People actually miss me). So, I finally gave in and here I am, but with a twist. I believe it is called blogging.
First up I will address an issue that is very much current, the overlooking of Ramnaresh Sarwan for, not only a central contract but also selection for the Sri Lanka tour, by the West Indies selectors. I will not get into the debate about whether the WICB was correct in snubbing Sarwan. The most I am going to say is that if you are going to buck the system your game has got to be airtight.
Sarwan is quoted as saying the contract snub did not affect his game but in my humble opinion his scores in the various forms of the game since the start of September when those offered contracts were made known prove otherwise. It is obvious that he has been put off by the happenings. I venture to say his state of mind had a direct effect on the performance of the Guyana West Indies teams of the 1980s proved that, and so did the Aussie behemoth which followed. Sarwan’s performance or lack of, in the face of such adversity brings into question his mental strength.
In 2005 Shivnarine Chanderpaul was sent home for being “tired and lethargic”. In response “Tiger” displayed the mental fortitude we all knew he possessed from since the days when he was too small to score his runs in front of the wicket. Whether indeed he was tired and lethargic I don’t know but what followed was the purplest patch of his career, starting him on the way to being the most dependable batsman in the region and a ranking as the number one in the world.
Sarwan would do well to take a page out of the Chanderpaul book. A single-minded determination to succeed is what is needed. Shiv has said before he just wants to play cricket. Sarwan should adopt that attitude too. His future as a West Indian player depends on it. His droves of fans are depending on it, and West Indies cricket is depending on it.
Very nice Balgo...welcome back to de internet!
ReplyDeletewell said. I am not and never was a fan of Sars since he behaves, in Guyanese parlance, "like a lil girl". He always running and complaining and crying foul and blaming every one else except himself, for his troubles. Now with this latest salvo he is trying to play politics the Guyanese. Good luck with that!!! Instead of running to the politicians he should run around the national park a couple of times.
ReplyDelete@Lawrence...thank you.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous...do you think he has what it takes to regain a spot in the team, and keep it?
Good start, bro. A well composed piece, I'm sure any unbiased person would identify with. I like the comparsion. I don't think Shiv was tired. He saw me in the Park during that period. He was jogging and stopped to hail me up. I asked him what happened and he said he was called into the office, handed a ticket and told he needed some rest. He came home because it was always nice to be home. Sarwan rarely acknowledges people he knew before he became a Windies player.
ReplyDeleteWell articulated ,Donovan.
ReplyDeleteIn reply to your Question: yes he can if only he would keep his fitness level up and stop breaking down during tours.
ReplyDeleteWell said balgo. i hope that WICB will be just as prudent in ensuring that all levels of fitness and behaviours are maintained. Sars need to prove to them that the folly of dropping him from the Sri Lanka tour was indeed that by SCORING PLENTY RUNS now.
ReplyDeleteWell articulated!
ReplyDeleteThanks. One year later and things are very much the same.
ReplyDelete