Sarwan At Deep End
by HAYDN GILL in St Vincent
Barbados Nation
May 16, 2004
KINGSTOWN – A leading Caribbean cricket personality once said we would go nowhere if regional administrators weren’t singing from the same hymn sheet.
You don’t have to look far to see what he is talking about.
If there are six voices singing different words with a different melody and different rhythm, it will only produce a terrible discord.
The same principle applies to the game of cricket in the region.
A glaring example of discord surrounds one of the most important issues in our development.
Ramnaresh Sarwan, a wonderfully talented batsman and the best of the young crop, was last season identified by the regional selectors as a future West Indies captain.
His appointment as vice-captain for home tours against Australia and Sri Lanka and retention for subsequent series confirms that he is viewed as the natural successor to Brian Lara.
At the age of 23, Sarwan, however, has limited experience in a role that involves a great deal of responsibility.
Since leading the Guyana youth team in the 1997 and 1998 Nortel championships, his opportunities to captain any side at any level have been limited.
He’s never had the chance over an extended period with either a West Indies “A” or “B” team and he has captained Guyana in the odd match whenever Carl Hooper or Shivnarine Chanderpaul was unavailable.
His progression isn’t helped by the Guyanese selectors. It is virtually inexcusable that they have not seen it fit to appoint him as their national captain.
Instead, they have opted to give the job to Chanderpaul, who clearly isn’t in the plans of the West Indies selectors when it comes to a leadership role.
One has to wonder what is the level of communication between the West Indies selectors and their territorial counterparts. This scenario suggests it may be non-existent.
The decision by Guyana to have Chanderpaul as captain is one with a national interest only and seemingly ignoring the wider picture and the vision of the West Indies selectors.
Sadly to say, it once more boils down to some level of insularity.
No matter how much an individual is gifted with leadership qualities, he can’t just be plunged into the job of West Indies captain without having the adequate practice experience at regional level.
To his credit, Sarwan has done a reasonable job in the two One-Day Internationals he’s led the team in this season.
Sooner, rather than later, however, the Guyana selectors are going to have to take the obvious step.
Sarwan knows that his time will come.
“I’m not going to say if I think I should be doing it at the lower level, but I’ve been learning quite a lot being West Indies vice-captain and trying to gain as much experience when I play with Guyana and West Indies,” he said.
“It’s a difficult situation to say if should be given the captaincy for Guyana. Whenever that time is right, the opportunity will present itself.”
My mind goes back to the Test match against Australia at Kensington last season when Lara spent part of the game off the field.
At a post-play interview after the second day, Sarwan revealed that there were times he had forgotten that he was in charge and Chris Gayle had to remind him that he was supposed to be setting the field.
As amusing as it sounds, it boils down to the fact that he was in an unaccustomed role.
He will only develop if he is given a chance to do the job at regional level on a more regular basis.
As vice-captain and skipper for the first ODI against England last month and the first against Bangladesh yesterday, he would have learnt.
“It is something that has enhanced my responsibility to the team,” he said. “Everyone has been supportive. I try and support them as much as possible.
“Even before I was vice-captain or captain, we had a lot of conversations with each other and try to support each other as much as possible.”
Sarwan now needs that support and vote of confidence from the Guyana selectors.