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Gayle wrong man for the job
Published on: 11/4/2009.
by PHILIP HACKETT
THE ANNOUNCEMENT that Chris Gayle has again been appointed West Indies captain has put an end to weeks of speculation and has possibly offered some insight into the manner in which the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will conduct its affairs after months of conflict with the region's leading players.
The WICB adopted an uncharacteristic tough stance amidst the chaos created by the first choice players withdrawing their services as part of industrial action undertaken by their representative body, West Indies Players' Association (WIPA).
The use of replacement players for the Test series against Bangladesh was initially seen as a desperate move designed to save West Indies cricket from irreparable damage.
As negotiations continued with the intervention of regional politicians and personalities, a door was opened for the return of the original players.
The WICB stood firm, remaining loyal to the players who had bailed them out as far as the ICC Champions Trophy. It was a bold move made in the face of immense criticism and pressure from within and from outside the region.
The boldness of the WICB seemed to be providing a hint that our regional administrators had had enough of the inept attitude of our regional players and had at last reached a stage where they were prepared to put principle above the desire for immediate success.
The horrendous performance of Floyd Reifer with the bat closed the door to him as a continued option even in the short term, but the reappointment of Gayle seems to suggest business as usual.
Gayle's appointment is somewhat balanced by the announcement of Joel Garner as team manager. Garner's no-nonsense management style is widely known; and with concerns about challenges in getting the team to gel following the industrial climate it is clear that strong management will be required.
But what then of the Gayle selection?
The fact that Gayle and Daren Ganga were the two most talked-about candidates for the captaincy is a serious indictment on the state of West Indies cricket. It meant the selectors were truly between a rock and a hard place.
While Gayle's modest Test record is substantially superior to Ganga's effort over 48 Tests, Gayle has done little to suggest that he can be the inspiration behind a revival in West Indies cricket.
Ganga has been a highly successful leader of the Trinidad and Tobago side but could have a similar problem to that experienced by Reifer in justifying his presence in the team.
A captain who cannot earn his keep will find himself under pressure to maintain the respect of his players.
The selectors clearly recognised that the selection of a West Indies captain for a Test series against the mighty Australians could not be made on the basis of a Twenty20 tournament.
While I can understand the reluctance of the selectors to install Ganga, I believe the reappointment of Gayle sends the wrong message.
It is very likely that the next outstanding West Indies captain is yet to make his international debut. I see no obvious candidates among the current crop. There are some however who deserve being eliminated and I believe Gayle is among them.
A West Indies captain, like the chief executive officer of any major corporation, the prime minister of a country or the president of any nation must be a person who is completely reliable. Like the captain of a ship, he must be on the job until the end, whatever situation materialises.
Gayle abandoned West Indies cricket even after the WICB had bent over backwards to accommodate him.
West Indies cricket needs a captain who is completely committed to the cause of rebuilding West Indian pride in a sport that has benefited Gayle and his players, more so than any other group of Caribbean players in the history of the sport.
I am not convinced Gayle fully appreciates the seriousness of his responsibility as a leader. West Indies cricket cannot be simply about money and contracts. Any leader who adopts that philosophy in this era is misguided and unfit for the job.
West Indies captains in the past have taken issue with the WICB over financial matters, but those actions took place at stages in our history when the players were the ones being exploited.
The modern day victims of exploitation are the fans who are expected to pay hard-earned money to fill stands supposedly to support cricketers who either know little or care nothing about the legacy established by our past heroes.
Philip Hackett is an experienced freelance journalist.
19 comment found!
Chris right man for job : 11/6/2009
If PHILIP HACKETT is so knowledgable about cricket and so eager to protray Chris Gayle as failure, and a weak character, as a leader? Then, why don't Mr Hackett take the captaincy job himself. He can play for peanuts and be exploited by the WICB; while the rest of the world live in luxury when they retire from cricket. Shame on you Mr. Hackett, Chris is the right man for the job.
GAYLE & THE CAPTAINCY : 11/6/2009
Leave Mr.Hackett alone. He has a right to express his views just as you do. He made several points worthy of consideration. The namecalling isn't necessary. Look, Gayle has been appointed the captain and that's that. But Gayle is a jokey captain, in my view. He's tactically deficient, way too laid-back and needs to be far more proactive in the field. He does not read the game very well, in my opinion. He tends to allow the game to drift away from his team. Gayle waits for something to happen rather than making a move that could change the run of play.In terms of his batting, rather than go to the wicket, lead from the front, set the tone for his men to follow, seek to build a good captain's innings, Gayle goes after the very first ball as if he's playing in a 20/20 fixture. Test cricket is the ultimate examination of a player's skill set, attitude, approach, professionalism and the like and if you would be honest, you would agree that the big man has let down the team and the fans far too often. To my mind,he's played only one genuine captain's innings of late. That was against NZ @ Napier last year when he made 197. Knocks such as these are going to be required from him and his comrades at the top and middle order, if the team is to have a chance of winning a match against the tough Aussies on their home turf. The slam bam 40 runs laced with seven fours and two sixes won't cut it Down Under. And you know, Ponting, Lee, Siddle and John Q.Cricketing Public in Australia will be viewing Gayle as Pubic Enemy #1. Gayle is a PR nightmare too. Half the time, I don't know what he's trying to say during an interview or a press conference. I believe Gayle has no idea what it means to be the captain of a WI team. Furthermore, based on what has come out of his mouth,he's not committed to the upliftment of our cricket. But as somebody opine, Gayle is leader by default. As a long-time die-hard WI cricket fan, I will be backing the team against the Aussies. BTW, my choice for captain would've been Bravo.
The Captain : 11/5/2009
Why does anyone bother to read what skums like hackett has to say. Gayle was the leader when his entire team decides to strike for reasons outlined earlier, if the team then decides to play and he is not appointed captain do you believe that the rest will take this lightly.
: 11/5/2009
Right now the West Indies captaincy is like H1N1..no one wants it so basically Gayle retained the captaincy by default.
Rubbish : 11/5/2009
Another example that underscores the dramatic decline in the standard of journalism. I suppose by this line of reasoning the shame resulting from the abandonment of a test match in Antigua should automatically and permanently disqualify all members of the WICB from continuing to serve in any capacity...
Gayle as Captain: : 11/5/2009
Chris Gayle is not the issue,the WICB and it's overpaid members are the problem.What has Julian Hunte contributed to WI CRICKET? get rid of him and the entire Board.
The Captaincy : 11/4/2009
After all that has been said and printed about Gayle's comments about test cricket andwith the strike and every thing else too was surprised to see Chris Gayle re-appointed captain. Ganga' in the side would leave the batting very weak .We need to strengthen the batting not weaken it.So i would prefer to have seen the selectors be brave and give the job to Dwayne Bravo Neil
: 11/4/2009
I agree with Caribbean Man WHOLEHEARTEDLY
WI Captain - Chris Gayle : 11/4/2009
The fact that the players who are part of the team seem to wholeheartedly support Chris Gayle as their captain tells you what you need to know. At this juncture there is no one else with the combination of performance and leadership skills to compete with Gayle as Captain. Someone needs to be groomed to take his place in the future and that person could well be Dwayne Bravo...however he's not yet ready. We cannot compare the current players with those of the past who grew up in a different era. We must move forward with the best players available and build a structure which will develop professional players for the future. Management sets the tone and program which the players must and should follow. I believe the WIBC and individual Boards have to look at themselves in the mirror and correct their failures before blaming the players for all the negatives of the recent pariod. After all they are supposed to be in charge!
Our Team : 11/4/2009
It is my right as an employee to have a job description prior to the start of work.It is my right to have and refuse, the terms of compensation, prior to the start of work. It s your right as the employer not to hire! But what are the extenuating circumstances here. The WICB(C) is a Managing facility indirectly owned by the WIndian public, which has been loathe to to direct the WICB(C). The public expects the Manager to perform creditably and achieve results. Results where our best are showcased, selected on merit, and molded as our representative warrior. The public may at times still be caught up with the inbred partisan politics of Windward and Leeward;Jamaica, Guyana,Trindad vs Small Islanders. The general crap we state or allow to be seen in actions. The players in the past and present have not been treated fairly, in terms of pay, offhand lack of concern for their health,unmerited nonselection etc... The treatment of Haynes, Roberts and the other famed names come rushing to mind. In light of these past actions which employee would throw himself solely on the good grace of the WICB----(C)? the Hacketts of the Barbadian ilk may be forgiven. It is in their nature not to stand, to confront the establihment,or recognise that Labour and Employer are on an EQUAL footing. Let the players earn a play on their ability to bat,bowl and field, then select a captain. Not a good Tacticcian, teach the entire team about tactics. Not a good Spokesman, teach the entire oratorship skills. This is what we require of management.
the triumph of pragmatism : 11/4/2009
In an ideal world where a WI team comprises several natural-born leaders, the conclusion that Gayle is not right for the job would be justified. However, this is clearly not the case here. Mr. Hackett's reasons for declaring Gayle unfit to lead are both faulty and unconvincing. The unpalatable fact is the entire squad "abandoned West Indies cricket even after the WICB had bent over backwards to accommodate [them]." Consider this for a moment: "Do the players realise the seriousness of representing the Caribbean? Are they not all about money and contracts? I think you know the answer. If we were to apply your standards to the entire team, it appears we would have no captain, unless Ganga is installed solely for his dedication to WI cricket. I would have preferred to see the WICB start with a new slate of players. However, for several reasons, that is not realistic. I admit that Gayle has several issues that require attention, viz., his batting average needs to improve; he must respect authority; and he must bring more thought to the job of captain. Notwithstanding, the WICB, ostensibly, has made the most sensible choice. On balance, they have done the best with what they have available to them. Perhaps a shift in our approach is overdue. The incessant second-guessing of the Board's decisions and the myopic concentration on Gayle's negatives by journalists, pundits, and John public, will not help the team to perform in Australia. So instead of rehearsing ad infinitum the obvious deficiencies, let's be more constructive. Encourage the Board to do everything in its power to prepare the team properly before they engage Australia, and give Gayle all the technical help he needs. And since it is does not appear to be a sane strategy to denigrate players on the eve of a major battle, perhaps more support for the captain and players will encourage them to dig deeper to do us proud in the approaching assignment. We know the weaknesses of the Board, the captain, and team. Let's fix what we can, and do the best with what we have in hand.
Captaincy : 11/4/2009
The team has been steadily improving sine the exit of Brian Lara and many people believe that Gayle is the reason. So why not retain him.
Anybody could talk -and write too! : 11/4/2009
The fact that Gayle and Daren Ganga were the two most talked-about candidates for the captaincy ....It meant the selectors were truly between a rock and a hard place. (For the writer:Please read the following) ...Butts said the other players considered for the top job included were Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo (both former captains) and vice-captain Denesh Ramdin. "Those four names were considered for the captaincy of the West Indies team," Butts told Caribbean Media Corporation. ....Now where is the name Daren Ganga? Get real!
: 11/4/2009
PHILIP HACKETT. just get over it ok..Gayle was chosen to be captain, not can't mek runs Ganga, so live with it. WI don't need a politician to represent them, they need someone who can bat, and that are respected by their peers end of story. Lets move on. 246
@ alisingh : 11/4/2009
I was thinking the same thing alisingh. Philip Hackett just wrote all of this and can't suggest one name to be captain, but will criticize the decision. If you have such a problem with the captain suggest who it can be and also give reasons why that person should be captain. It's not good enough to just criticize.
GAYLE IS RIGHT FOR THE JOB : 11/4/2009
GANGA IS NOT A TEST CRICKETER AND TO CAPTAIN A TEST TEAM YOU HAVE TO BE A TEST PLAYER.WHO CARES WHAT SNOBS LIKE HACKETT THINK.GAYLE IS RIGHT FOR THE JOB.
gayle is right for the job : 11/4/2009
every person that walks onto a field of cricket is committed to the sport....they love for the game compells them to be there ,each individual may not be as good as the other person in the game, but committment sees them through..a general can only be as good as his army, and ganga is very fortunate to have one that is fighting well at this moment..they were several captains in the west indies whom at one point in time also struggle as captains because they were sometimes very few good players...they were others who had some great players, and just had to walk onto the field and games were won that does not mean they were gret captains...who else is better for the job at this time but gayle, he will fight he will work and his love leadership for the game will help him build a great army...west indies will not be walked over by australia...trolly in texas..west indies supporter to the end win loose or draw
gayle is right for the job : 11/4/2009
every person that walks onto a field of cricket is committed to the sport....they love for the game compells them to be there ,each individual may not be as good as the other person in the game, but committment sees them through..a general can only be as good as his army, and ganga is very fortunate to have one that is fighting well at this moment..they were several captains in the west indies whom at one point in time also struggle as captains because they were sometimes very few good players...they were others who had some great players, and just had to walk onto the field and games were won that does not mean they were gret captains...who else is better for the job at this time but gayle, he will fight he will work and his love leadership for the game will help him build a great army...west indies will not be walked over by australia...
W.I. Captain. : 11/4/2009
After all that talk, who should be the captain of the West Indies Team?
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