Sport360° view: Ramdin bravery just what Windies need

Jaideep Marar 15:00 11/05/2014
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  • Pointing the way: New Windies skipper Denesh Ramdin (l) will prove a very different character to Darren Sammy.

    So much has happened in West Indies cricket in recent times that nothing ceases to surprise us anymore.

    Yet, the elevation of Denesh Ramdin as Test captain and the decision by his predecessor Darren Sammy to quit the longer format yesterday is an interesting development.

    Sammy’s sacking was on expected lines after West Indies suffered heavy defeats in four of their last five Tests (two in India and two in New Zealand) last year.

    Until then, they had fared well winning six Tests in a row but those victories had come against lower-ranked teams – two at home against New Zealand (ranked eighth then), two against Bangladesh (ranked ninth) and two in Zimbabwe(ranked 10th).

    With those six wins, West Indies were expected to challenge the higher–ranked teams but they didn’t and sunk to new depths instead.

    Sammy knew what was in store and had said after losing the series in New Zealand four months ago: “Some careers are on the line, could be mine as well, you never know.”

    Sammy was never a great Test player as is evident in his batting (38 matches, 1,323 runs, average 21.68) and bowling figures (84 wickets, average 35,79).

    The St Lucian, though, was a binding force in a team comprising diverse characters from a clutch of Caribbean nations. 

    Despite his five-day flaws as a player, he gave it his best shot every time he stepped on the field and was undeterred by the criticism that he only made the team because he was the captain.

    West Indies’ Test cricket credentials didn’t change much during Sammy’s tenure when they played 30 matches, won eight, lost 12 and drew 10. They continue to languish at the bottom of the International Cricket Council rankings in eighth.

    Ramdin, Unlike Sammy is a feisty character and is an experienced Test player with 56 matches under his belt. 

    He would have been the captain two years ago had he not been dropped from the Test team owing to a poor run of form. 

    But since making his comeback with a defiant hundred against England – when he held out a piece of paper with a message for Viv Richards, saying: “Yea Viv, Talk Nah” in response to the legend’s criticism – Ramdin has been a consistent performer averaging 44.29 in 14 matches with three hundreds and three fifties. 

    While Sammy won many hearts with his pleasant personality and hard work, Ramdin has an aggressive streak and doesn’t care much about reputation.

    Also, for the first time in three years, West Indies have got a captain who is assured of his position in the side.

    Sammy probably realised it and decided to forego Tests to focus in the shorter formate formats, where he has a bigger say. It is also an indication of where West Indies’ cricket interests lie.

    To think that this change at the helm can bring about an upsurge in Tests for West Indies will be foolhardy.  But expect the Trinidadian to make bolder moves and cause a few more surprises than his predecessor.

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