TWO five-wicket hauls by captain Courtney Walsh in the last two Tests were far from enough to save the West Indies from back-to-back inningsÕ defeats at the hands of Wasim AkramÕs Pakistan side.
Blaming No West Indian wants a 3-0 result from this crucial tour, for according to coach Malcolm Marshall, Òthere is still a lot of pride to play for in this final TestÓ.
However, we just cannot hope to win a Test match in this modern age. We have to play to win.
Recently, The Best of Strokes questioned whet-her or not the tour management was concerned about the fact that West Indies were not bowling out their opponents, as accustomed, which is fundamental to the equation for winning. Yet, as reported in the Weekend Nation, both Walsh and manager Clive Lloyd were blaming the batsmen.
Poor
The statistics show that Pakistan scored 381 (Inzamam-ul-Haq 92 not out) in the first Test, and 471 (Inzamam 177, Sohail 160) in the second Test. So that in spite of the poor batting performances by the West Indies, the point must also be made that we have failed to perform well in the field.
And what further distresses me is to hear that our devastating defeats were ÒunbearableÓ, and that there are no Òcaptaincy problemsÓ.
Yet no word has come of any efforts being made by management and captain to salvage a little pride, which seems a relic of our rich cricketing past.
Carl Hooper has already scored his bonus runs of the series, Brian Lara has just 56 runs (86 balls) in the two Tests so far, and Curtly Ambrose, who has a career 307 Test wickets, picked up only one, in the last Test at Rawalpindi.
Obligated
These current ÒstarsÓ form the backbone of the West Indies team, and ought to be obligated, along with Walsh, Ian Bishop, Sherwin Campbell, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, to protect the Òwell-beingÓ of West Indies cricket.
The Best of Strokes feels strongly that WalshÕs leadership, LloydÕs management, and the coaching of Marshall are all on the line in this upheaval.
The writing is on the wall. Failure to motivate the key players, heavy criticisms of the same players, and lack of team spirit are major factors in making the losses so ÒunbearableÓ.
PakistanÕs only clean sweep in a series (in 45 years and 242 Tests), was in 1982/83, when Imran KhanÕs men beat Kim HughesÕ Australian side 3-0.
Wasim Akram is on record as saying that he wants to join the great leaders of his country by clinching an historic 3-0 victory over the West Indies.
Most pundits feel that our fate is already sealed, and itÕs just a question as to the margin of defeat, soon to be determined. Walsh feels otherwise.
Can he now inject some motivation into his battered men and snatch a little pride from the jaws of humiliation?
LetÕs wait while this gripping encounter swiftly unfolds.
Sadly enough, itÕs now reduced to being a struggle not to be the weakest international cricket nation.
Let us be reminded that the Sri Lankans, though not winning, can hardly be considered losers.