I support Chanders

[realthog]

I don't expect that statement to mean anything at all to anyone outside the cricket-playing world (i.e., to anyone in the US), but if it means something to you please post a similar message on your own blog; if enough of us do this, perhaps the message might get through.

For many years, through thick and thin, Shiv Chanderpaul has given of his very best to West Indian cricket, often when there seemed to be no one much else willing (or with sufficient talent) to support him. Now he's being treated abysmally by some ignorant jumped-up bureaucrats at the West Indies Cricket Board.

Whether or not they pick him for the team is of course their prerogative; most of us might think they were nuts but, hey, it's reasonable they might have decided on a policy of developing new talent even if that means losing a lot of matches in the interim. Foolish -- in that the best way of developing new talent is to have a few older players around to help them -- but plausible.

What's unforgivable is that the jackasses have thought the only way to justify their decision is to smear the guy.

I've been a pretty consistent supporter of the Windies for decades (except, of course, when they were playing England), even during the many lean years they've been suffering. I lost quite a lot of sleep after the time I found myself in the same (very large) room as Viv Richards and Joel Garner -- the bar at Somerset County Cricket Ground, in point of fact. But I think finally, unless the WICB gets its act together and starts treating Chanderpaul with the courtesy he merits, my loyalty is ebbing.

So, please repeat it until the administrators finally discover there's a dissident world out there: I support Chanders.

Comments

[martyn44.livejournal.com]

Cricket administrators the world over - in Dubai, most of the time - understand and have loyalty only to one thing - money, and most of the money in the cricketing world comes from illegal bookies whose base is, surprise, surprise, Dubai. They are ruining our beautiful game.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has always conducted himself with dignity and given his best for his team. He's a man. Not everyone connected with cricket can claim as much.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Cricket administrators the world over . . . understand and have loyalty only to one thing - money

I think that's a bit of an overstatement, in that there are still some who have the interests of the game at heart, but there's a lot of truth in what you say -- as witness the increasing focus on lowest-common-denominator 20-over knockabouts, not to mention the grotesque spectacle of lots of fake teams contesting in the IPL.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

I agree. I haven't followed West Indies cricket as closely as I should, but this sounds, I have to say, par for the course.

My own feeling is that Windies have not been well-led since the days when they were managed by Clive Lloyd.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

I think the rot started when they appointed Brian Lara captain -- as foolish a decision as when England appointed Pieterson skipper, but alas not as swiftly reversed. Obviously Lara was a great batsman, but he was a lousy skipper, and I think Windies have never recovered.

I have the Lloyd bio Super Cat sitting on my nightstand waiting for its turn. Now there was a captain for you!

this sounds, I have to say, par for the course

It seems par for the course for far too many cricket administrators these days, alas -- whose attitude often seems to be that the guys and gals who actually do the playing are little more than irritating essentials.