International diplomat, player-rights advocate, development officer, wicketkeeper-batsman, silver-haired and totally sleek, Deryck Murray has worn a lot of hats for Trinidad and West Indies. Murray is quite the man here.When Ajay Ratra doesn't get across to a leg-side tickle, a local photographer remarks, "Murray would have ate that, maan." When he was dropped at Port-of-Spain against in England in 1980-81, they were strong protests, placards, even a boycott, though Murray himself denies any violence or vandalism. "I think I had a wonderful support from my home crowd," he remembers. "I think it was a pretty strong feeling at that time. The West Indies population is very passionate about its support of cricket and no less in Trinidad."

Currently, Murray is director for cricket development with the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Association. He not only understands the need to revive West Indies' position in world cricket, he actually feels partly responsible for the dip in recent times. "I think what we need to do is actually address the some of the shortfalls that we as administrators have allowed to creep into the system. We haven't really adapted to the changes in the way young players need to be developed. I'm just beginning to realise that and address it."

Murray is in charge of seeing through the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Development Centre, to be completed later this year. The academy, complete with indoor nets, a gymnasium, and classroom sessions to analyse techniques on video and learn more about West Indian cricket history, will be the new place for young Trinidadians to come through. "I don't think there is any lack of interest and certainly no lack of natural ability. What we need to do is tap that natural ability and get us back to the top of the tree of international cricket."

Murray is used to administering at higher levels. For a period in the 1980s, he was a Trinidad and Tobago representative in the United Nations. "I enjoyed the experience in that field for about six or seven years. I enjoyed the challenges of international diplomacy." Previosly, in his playing days, he fought zealously for the rights of the cricketers. "It was not only a question of getting paid - which we weren't really - but also for the benevolent funds and things like that."

Those were different times. The cricket itself was more relaxed. Murray's own career - 17 years long - couldn't encompass more than 62 Tests. "They were long gaps between one series and another. If I could have gone on to play forever, I would have loved to. It was the most enjoyable phase of my life."

Keeping itself has changed from the time Murray stood behind the stumps. Wicketkeepers are crucial now, as they were crucial then, but they are seen today as allrounders. The glovework has deteriorated. Murray believes that the media has much to do with it. "The media concentrates more on the batting prowess of the keeper. But I think the first thing the keeper gets selected is for wicketkeeping. If they are not keeping properly, then they are not going to last very long."

It has long been perceived as a thankless job. "They used to say that if a wicketkeeper is good, he will not be noticed." You remember the catches dropped, not the saves made or chances held. "It's part of the terriotry. You accept it. That is the job of the keeper. At the end of the day the bowlers, and the rest of your team-mates, respect you. That is the most enjoyable part of the game."

Rahul Bhattacharya is a staff writer with Wisden.com India. His reports will appear here throughout the Test series.

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