By Denzil Fernandes
Daijiworld Media Network

Nov 4: The once mighty West Indies have fallen by the way side if one may say so. They are no more the force to reckon with and their men to represent the team are nowhere near their past heroes. Eminent players like Sobers, Kanhai, Richards, Garner, Lara, Gibbs, Lloyd, Holding, Marshall, Walsh, Ambrose, Richardson, Kallicharan and so many like them were not only a treat for the onlooker but also ensured wins for their team whenever they played. There was a time when West Indies were like ‘untouchables’ because no team could ever think of winning against them.

Today, however, it is a different story altogether. A disjointed lot to a great extent with eternal fights with the officials who too are not very keen to support their players has seen many leaving the team unfortunately. The classic case of top order batsman Chris Gayle who does not find a place in the West Indies team at the moment. No team can afford to miss a player like Gayle and the higher ups have not been diplomatic in handling the big curly batsman. He has found solace by playing in the lucrative Indian Player League (IPL) where the team owners have handled him like a ‘darling’. In return, Gayle has performed brilliantly whichever team he has played in the IPL and enjoyed his stay in India.

Despite the problems around, West Indies are in the process of re building their side. Under skipper Darren Sammy some of the youngsters have proved their worth in the team. They have in players like Ravi Rampaul, Khemar Roach and Devendra Bishoo top quality performers who can give a jitter to any opposition. Then there are others like Bravo, Pollard who too have played well in patches. Who plays when for the team is yet another story.

The West Indies are now in India to play a three-match Test series and five One-day Internationals against India. The first test will be played from November 6 at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla ground. The other two tests will be at Kolkata (November 14-18) and Mumbai (November 22-26), respectively. The 5 one day matches will be at Cuttack (November 29), Visakhapatnam(December 2), Ahmedabad (December 5), Indore (December 8) and Chennai (December 11).

The Caribbeans have come directly from Bangldesh where they won the two Test series 1-0 and also the 3 match one day series 2-1 although they lost the ‘one off’ T20 International. With similar conditions in India like Bangladesh, the visitors will go straight into the Delhi test with plenty of confidence after their success in Bangladesh.

But then, the visitors will find the going tough against an Indian team that recently humiliated England in an emphatic manner. With plenty of younsters now lining up for India and the old timers too back in shape and in the team too, Sammy and his players will have a handful to cope with the Indians in murderous form.

There will be a big tussle for selection in the Indian team with Gambhir, Dravid, Sehwag, Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Ishant Sharma and Laxman back in the pack. This apart, there is the dashing Kohli and skipper Dhoni and the side seems to be filled with plenty of run getters. Dhoni and coach Fletcher will have to scratch their heads before picking the final eleven. Right now, India has a bag full of top order batsmen and bowlers who will send West Indies into submission. Bowlers like Pragyan Ojha and Ashwin will be going all out to impress the selectors especially with their quality spin bowling. 

The matches against West Indies gain great significance with the Australian tour coming up immediately after the West Indies encounter.

India whitewashed England at home in the recent series and if one goes by that show, there is no doubt that West Indies will be lining up for similar thrashing. Skipper Darren Sammy and his boys will have plenty of hard work on the field if they have to stop a strong Indian team which will be fresh and furious to down the West Indies.

One saw a fall in attendance in the recent Indo-England matches. An overdose of cricket perhaps could be one of the reasons. But with some new exciting stars in the West Indies side one can look forward to a full house as the contest commences on Nov.6 in Delhi.

India Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Rahul Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron. Coach: Duncan Fletcher