The odds are stacked against them

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,

Although WI cricket is in decline, it always seems to me that players are not playing only against the eleven players in the opposite team, but that they also have to contend with the two umpires, who seem to be in the opposition team also. At crucial stages during the second Test vs India in Barbados, two decisions were made that were in favour of the opposition. One was when Rahul Dravid was caught by Adrian Barath: the umpire was just a few feet away but yet he could not see that a clean catch was taken. And to compound the issue, the third umpire, after so many reviews, could not figure out that it was a clean catch. Toney Craig, in his review during the break, confirmed it was a clean catch. The other instance was when Shivnarine Chanderpaul was given out LBW. It was a match-turning decision. Chanderpaul was given out, then “Hawk Eye” showed that the ball was missing the stumps by about eight inches. Although Darren Sammy’s batting is not of the best, I think he is making a meaningful contribution to the team’s efforts by his fielding, bowling and leadership, so far. The players who should be left out of the third Test because of their batting averages are Lendl Simmonds, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Carlton Baugh. Perhaps I can suggest my 13 for the final test. They are: A Barath, K Edwards, D Bravo, S Chanderpaul, M Samuels, D Bravo, D Ramdin, D Sammy, A Russell, R Ramphal, F Edwards, D Bishoo and K Roach. The pitch assessment will determine the final eleven.

Thanks for your usual cooperation in publishing this letter early.

Yours truly,

Hafiz Mohamed

New York

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