THE West Indies Cricket Team has, in the past two decades, had its ups and downs – in the majority of cases more downs than ups; but in all of its travails, the players have soldiered on, strong in faith, testing the extreme limits of the game.This was best on display in last Sunday’s World T20 finals at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India, where the Caribbean side stunned a rampant England side to become the first team to win the World T20 Trophy twice.

Viewers watching the match from the comfort of their homes, a corner shop or a watering hole with a television set would have seen a practical demonstration of the adage “It is not over until it is over”. Going into the final over needing 19 runs to win, the odds were highly stacked against the West Indies, and it appeared that a blinder from either Marlon Samuels or Carlos Brathwaite, or both of them, was needed to ‘take it home’ for the West Indies. In these final trying moments of the game, staring down a defeat but inspired by the occasion, Carlos Brathwaite responded in a manner that can be compared to the biblical David’s response to the imposing giant Goliath.

To astonished viewers worldwide, his action appeared to be the stuff of folklore, as this burly, charged-up Barbadian bludgeoned every delivery sent down by Ben Stokes — until the final over England’s most economical bowler in the match — high and hard into the electrified Eden Gardens stands.
From the cusp of victory, England’s imminent glory was turned into shame, thanks to the belligerent grace of Carlos Brathwaite. But for the people of the Caribbean, this exhibition of power-hitting by Brathwaite and the rock-solid innings by his teammate Marlon Samuels were a demonstration of this indomitable spirit of ‘never say never’, regardless of how hard our backs are against the proverbial wall.

This most inspiring victory has reignited hope in adoring Caribbean fans that their teams are again champions of world cricket. Going into the final, they had to contend with a number of put-downs, notably one from English commentator Mark Nicholson, who described them as a bunch of brainless men. By any standard, this description was not only politically incorrect, but given the composition of the West Indies Team, it reeked of a racist overtone. Nicholson should know that, during the dark days of slavery, his forefathers had aided in concocting and propagating the view that Africans were an uncivilised, barbaric race of people who were incapable of surviving on their own.

What is astonishing in all of this is that, even though Nicholson later issued an apology — which came after the Caribbean side had defeated England — not one single English-dominated international media house had picked up on his crude remark, nor was he reprimanded by his employer(s).

But rewind the tape and, earlier in January of this year, during a Big Bash match, West Indies star batsman Christopher Henry Gayle, playing for the Melbourne Renegades, made a ‘tackle’ on Australian reporter Mel McLaughlin in an interview with her, and followed up with this comment: “Don’t blush, baby”. Almost immediately, the English media labelled Gayle a sexist; he was called a rebel, was fined by his team; and former Australian Cricket Captain, now commentator, Ian Chappell went as far as to urge that the West Indian batsman be banned from international cricket.

While Gayle’s comments to McLaughlin were wrong and out of place, and he was fined and subsequently apologised, Nicholson’s remarks in print, accessible to millions worldwide, were silently swept under the carpet.

It is in light of these situations that the West Indies’ win over England is special in more ways than one, as it has demonstrated the resilience of the Caribbean people against all odds, and has reinvigorated their passion for West Indies Cricket.

Cricket occupies a special place in our history: it binds our people together, is a celebration of our cultures, and is our pride and passion. In a past era, it was the medium through which our brave Caribbean men showed their fans that on a cricket field they are as good as, and equal to, any among their oppressors. The triumph of the male, female and Under-19 teams on the international arena has signalled that the greatness of the Caribbean team has not been lost. Although it may have been absent for a long time, it is beginning to emerge again. We need a Cricket Board which does not have bosses, but leaders to shepherd the West Indies on the path to ascend the heights of greatness again.