By Sunil Sarpal

Posting this historical article a day after in the INDIA vs West Indies, Women’s T20 World Cup match, India beat West Indies by 6 wickets!

That is the see-saw battle of this game. That’s what makes it so interesting. There came a phase in the history of men’s cricket when all the cricket playing nations boasted of 2-3 genuinely quick and skillful bowlers in their line up.  The very sight of these bowlers was intimidating  because they were possessing such a variety in their repertoire which even the most accomplished batsmen could not withstand.   It took the game of cricket to altogether different level.  These quickies were always on the throat of the batsman so that the hapless batsman had no respite.  The 6 ft plus barging in from the boundary line with red cherry in hand can lead to shiver down the spine of a batsman.   How can a batsman face, put aside, withstand, barrage of bouncers one after the other.  This was some sort of suicide type of cricket facing these quickies with 150 plus speed.  

West Indies had an unbelievable line-up consisting of 

Malcom Marshal

Joel Garner

Any Roberts

Michael Holding

Croft etc. etc. 

Pakistan’s challenge rests with Cap. Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis.

Australia had the fearsome duo of Deniss Lillee and Jeffery Thompson. 

England spearheads were Ian Botham and Wills. 

New Zealand had the services of undisputed talented Sir Richard Hadlee and Chatfield. 

India too had Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar.  

When we talk of competition, West Indies were undisputed champs, head and shoulders above in pace and variations.  On the face of their battery of fast bowlers, other teams were found just chockers.  They ruled the cricket world like roaring lions and their roar was deafning and debilitating for the opposition.  West Indies Team was studded with charismatic individuals either with bat or ball.  Their line-up challenged all the teams in their own den and humiliated them like never before. They made mockery of opposition on the field of cricket and tasted them dust.  

The line-up of West Indies team was :-

GORDAN GRINIDGES,  DESMOND HAYNES,  VIV RICHARDS,  CLIVE LLOYD (C) ,  LARRY GOMES   (OR ALWIN KALICHARAN),  JEFFERY DUJON,  ANDY ROBERTS,  MICHAEL HOLDING,  MALCOM MARSHAL,  JOEL GARNER, GIBBS  AND CROFT.  

They were all stars in their chosen field.  Perhaps in the history of cricket, such a combination of batsmen and bowlers never got together in unison.  

It was their captain Clive Lloyd who for the first time in the history of cricket introduced 4-pronged fast bowling attack.  It paid rich divident  to West Indies so that they ruled the world over a decade or so.  

Cricket is a funny sport. Common belief is – it is a game of glorious uncertainties. If it is so then how come Sachin scored 100 International tons? He must have reached the pinnacle so as to deal with any bowler and topple him.

People always talk of Sachin because of his enormous achievements. They do not talk of Kambli who was more gifted but unlucky not to have ticked the right boxes. Poor chap could not linger his career. People do not talk of Martin Crow, who was perhaps the best, but abandoned his career because of cancer. People talk of Viv Richards who blossomed because of army of fast bowlers and batsmen in his support and an astute leader in Clive Lloyd.

But the lone warrior from India in 70s was none other than Sunil Gavaskar. He single-handedly dealt with enormous challenges all over the world. Virat Kohli was once hailed as Sachin’s successor. Sachin scored 100 International tons in all formats of the game as against 70 by Virat. Nobody has the right to question Virat’s talent and inconsistency. He has already established himself as a talent beyond imagination. At 33, he can still reinvent his batting. Dry period happened even in Sachin’s career but a phone call from Sir Viv Richards enthused a self-belief in him when Sachin was considering retirement from the game. Virat too needs motivational counselling and not criticism. It is Virat and only Virat who will salvage his position in the side.

Brian Lara, another legend of the game, opinionated that do not write off Virat. He will come back with much better player. There have been instances when players just fade away and come back becomes next to impossible. Because failure for a longer period of time leaves the person hapless and shaken. Lot of debate and criticism dent the self- belief. Media these days write stories which are ‘reader savvy’ without considering its ill-effects. He needs support from all quarters so that his blade shines once again.

Cricket has become a ‘junoon’ among the enthusiasts. Every now and then some class act appears from no-where and the show goes on and on.