AS MY FRIEND Smoky would say I may be wrong as I usually am, but I have the distinct feeling that there was something wrong with the final ball, or rather “no ball”, which was delivered by Kieron Pollard, captain of the Barbados Tridents, in the final preliminary Caribbean Premier League game against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
If my assessment is incorrect, I offer an unreserved apology to Mr Pollard but if there is nothing wrong with my conclusion it may well be a case for the match referee to investigate.
It appears to me that the “no ball” delivered by Pollard was a deliberate act and was therefore most unsportsmanlike as well as unfortunate.
Having been treated to such an exhilarating batting display by Evin Lewis, it was a most disappointing and anti-climactic end to an entertaining spectacle.
If we retrace our steps 59 years to Sabina Park, where the West Indies opposed Pakistan, Garfield (now Sir Garfield) Sobers had equalled Len Hutton’s world record score of 364 when the bowler, Hanif Mohammed, informed the umpire that he would complete the over with his left hand.
History records that Sobers scored the required run and set a new mark for Test cricket.
Cricket is played not only according to the laws of the game but is probably the only sport which has such a comprehensive “spirit of the game” as part of its regulations.
It may be instructive that the two players involved in the match in 1958 are now revered as two of the most iconic players the game has ever known.
We will have to wait a while to see if history will be as kind to Mr Pollard.
– ROLLINS HOWARD
