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An afternoon of joy -- Posted by Isam on Friday, September 5 2003
Cricket’s glory was at its best when Bangladesh demolished Pakistan on the second afternoon of Third test match at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Skipper Khaled Mahmud led the charge with four quick wickets. The dependable Mohammad Rafique supported him with five more and Tapash Baisya took one wicket. The fielders backed up the bowlers with some awe-inspiring performance. It truly was the best ever Test Match session that Bangladesh ever had.

Everything went their way. One cannot remember or imagine a single session of play being so one-sided in favour of Bangladesh in a test match that involves them. None of the batsmen could make their presence felt, including the experienced Inzamam and Younis Khan. Hameed, Hafeez, Butt and Adil couldn’t stick around for too long. Pakistan captain Latif started a mini resurgence but was cut short by a tremendous reflex catch by Kapali. The session was glorious for Bangladesh. Every delivery had a chance of a dismissal. Every over was a step ahead for the team. Every hour saw at least 3 wickets down.

Mahmud has answered back at his critics in style by picking up the top order wickets. His first one was a beauty to newcomer Butt who edged it to the keeper. Next was Hafeez who missed an in cutter and was caught in front. Inzamam poked around for a while but was well held at second slip. Dhaka City was a little frantic by now. News spread that Sujon (captain’s nickname) has just picked up three wickets. He came back after lunch to remove Khan and things started going uphill for Bangladesh.

Rafique broke the back of the batting by removing the in form Hameed. Then he took all but one of the wickets. He was immaculate in his line and varied his pace, length slightly to trouble every batsmen that faced him. He used his arm ball extensively and it paid dividends as he took his third five-wicket haul of his career.

Everyone in Bangladesh now expects better from Bangladesh. Already, cricket pundits are predicting a lead of around 250 that would trouble the hosts. But one might be tempted to give the Pakistanis a target of nearly 300 to make sure of a certain win.

5 Ways up for the Windies -- Posted by Liam on Thursday, September 4 2003
In the past five years of West Indies cricket, there have been several high and low points. The low points have been shocking and thoroughly embarrassing and the high points have been thrilling. The mistake that alot of West Indian supporters make, is taking the victories for granted after just one or two good showings from the regional team - classic exaggeration.

After the West Indies beat Zimbabwe and Pakistan in inspiring fashion in 2000, some were saying confidently that the West Indies had 'turned the corner'. This was repeated after encouraging showings against South Africa and India in the following two years. On each occasion, the Windies ensured that such thoughts and hopes were disproved and destroyed comprehensively and completely, making many look silly. An important stat about the series' upon which such positive predictions were made is that they were all home series'.

The West Indies are as good a home team as they are a horrible away team. A heavy West Indian defeat abroad has become almost as expected as a Courtney Walsh duck. This year, the West Indies team faced one of their most difficult challenges of the last few years - Australia. They lost 3-1 in the four game set, but there were positives which could be drawn from the series. This is the same for the 1-0 series win against Sri Lanka.

Having watched the Windies closely in their play over the last year, I can safely say that the West Indies team of 2003 is alot better than that of 2002. I shall not venture as far as to say that the results will necessarily be better than those of a year ago, because cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. However, I will say that this team should be producing winning results consistently very soon. They have all the tools; it's just a matter of application at this point in time.

With much thought, five reasons have come to mind which sum up why this 2003 squad out-shines their 2002 counterparts.

#5 THERE IS MORE WHIP TO THE TAIL
In 2002, the West Indies used several combinations of bowlers with only a couple of constant names. Of the pool of bowlers, only Mahendra Nagamootoo showed any real prospect with the bat. In the 4th Test against Australia earlier this year, the West Indies chased 418 runs for an astounding record-breaking win. On that instance, the bottom four names were Banks, Drakes, Dillon and Lawson. Banks and Drakes added a crucial 46 runs in an unbeaten partnership. Ultimately, Drakes hit the winning runs. Would this have been possible a year ago? Would the West Indies have reached 418 from the position of 288/6 at which they once sat? Not likely.

A year ago, the tail would likely have consisted of Dillon at eight, Collins at nine and any other two seamers at ten and Jack. This certainly did not represent the most potent of rear-guard batting.

#4 DILLON HAS LOST HIS IMMUNITY
For the 3rd Test match against Australia earlier this year, the Caribbean was shocked when rookie Tino Best was brought in to replace Mervyn Dillon in the squad. Understandably, many were opposed. After all, Dillon had been the 'spearhead' of the West Indian bowling attack since the retirement of Courtney Walsh. Indeed, with 100+ wickets, Dillon had (and currently still has) more than all four of the 3rd Test bowlers combined, the move seemed destined to backfire.

Best failed to impress and Dillon was recalled for the 4th and final Test, but the motive made a lasting impression nonetheless. The WICB showed that no player is immune to the selectors axe and that any player who is not performing is liable to be dropped. Until that Test, Dillon seemed an automatic pick, but the decision to omit him not only sent a message to the Test players but also to those on the verge of international cricket. It stated that the selectors were and are willing to give opportunities to young players and opened a window of opportunity for players such as Edwards, Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor, all of whom are now pressing Dillon for his Test place. Hopefully this will bring out the best in Dillon as he finally sees some competition for his spot.

#3 SARWAN HAS DISPOSED OF HIS MONKEY
It took 49 innings and 27 matches before Ramnaresh Sarwan managed to score his maiden Test century. Up until that point, he had scored consistently for 14 fifties. Still, there was criticism on the young man for falling into a 'Chanderpaul syndrome' and not converting his starts. Many said that he would never truly be world-class until he proved that he could breakthrough to the century mark.

Sarwan responded with 119 against Bangladesh in 2002, but even then, he was still criticized by some. Most people acknowledged the hundred, but didn't really rate it because of the strength of opposition against which it was scored.

Lee charged in to bowl Sarwan on 99* in the 4th innings of the 4th Test of the 2003 series. Sarwan drove well through midon crossing for two runs and bringing up his second Test hundred and finally kicking that annoying monkey off his back. Finally the young man had an innings, the tale with which he could once and for all silence the critics on his century drought. After all, how can you ignore a classic hundred under pressure against the World-champion Aussies?

#2 PACE FOR THE FUTURE
In the 2003 season, names such as Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor and Daren Powell cropped up as exciting talents for the future of West Indies cricket. Of the trio, only Edwards has really achieved outstanding results as of yet but all have great potential.

Fidel Edwards was plucked out of obscurity by the wacky West Indian selectors and thrust into the limelight against Sri Lanka. Edwards exploited decent bowling conditions beautifully to rip through the middle and lower order of the visitors, ending with astounding figures of 5/36 on debut.

Jerome Taylor has played two Tests to date (both against Sri Lanka) with little success. However, anyone who actually watched him bowl would easily empathize with him. On debut, he seemed understandably nervous (especially considering he was just 18 at the time) and struggle to maintain a consistent line and length. Still he kept his head up and continued running in and trying. This is always a positive sign for a youngster because once there is persistence and a willingness to learn, there is a diamond in the rough.

The last of the three saw the least amount of action this season. Powell was recalled to the West Indies squad to play the inconsequential 3rd ODI against Sri Lanka earlier this year. In that game, he bowled with sharp pace and accuracy, ending with tidy figures of 9 overs and 0/37.

Another name re-emerged in Test cricket despite never really leaving the international scene. Corey Collymore was recalled to play two Tests against Sri Lanka after a 4-year stint as an ODI specialist. The Bajan pacer then proceeded to make the West Indies selectors look like fools for ignoring him for the Test arena for so long. He took 14 wickets in the two matches including a career high 7/57 (one of two 5-wicket hauls).

While one may get caught up in the hype surrounding the new pace prospects, it must also be remembered that Jermaine Lawson will return to the scene at some point. Before being reported to the ICC for a faulty action, Lawson was fast improving to the level of a truly world-class bowler. Upon his return, the West Indies will have a large pool of pacemen of which to choose, especially considering that Dillon and Drakes have not gone anywhere.

#1 BRIAN LARA HAS RE-DISCOVERED HIMSELF
There is no doubt that Brian Lara is a genius. After all, he is the double world-record holder and one of the most prolific batsmen in the last decade. However, since his miracle year (1994) he has been clearly and tragically inconsistent. At times he would be brilliant and at others, he would perish before you could say "three-seventy-five".

As captain, this inconsistency was ever more apparent. After a successful start in the role, Lara continued by leading the West Indies to some of their heaviest series defeats in the history of regional cricket. As such, Lara resigned the role to Adams and subsequently Hooper. His two heirs didn't exactly set the world alight either. All the while Lara was in and out of cricket due to personal complications and health issues.

In 2003, Lara received a clean bill of health for the World Cup in South Africa. He returned to the team as a player under the leadership of Carl Hooper and stamped his intentions immediately. Lara's 111 against South Africa was game-winning and nothing short of breathtaking. This would prove just the appetizer for the Lara run-feast to come. After a good World Cup, the Prince of Port of Spain returned to the Caribbean to begin preparations for the home series against Australia.

Lara was reinstated as captain and has never looked back since. His 832 runs in just 11 innings (83.20 avge) have taken him back to #1 in the PWC rankings and his innovative captaincy has given this young West Indies team a chance to win, even if they don't always grasp it. Now Lara's batting shows an element of maturity and responsibility, an element which was missing even in the prolific days of his youth.

The West Indies may not be a team to be reckoned with as yet but, with such talent in the team, it is not too far-fetched to think that they will be very soon.

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