Cricket: Windies fan embers to relight Fire in Babylon

They knew what was coming, a constant barrage of 90-mile-an-hour bouncers that tested courage, fortitude, pain thresholds and the fragility of bones. The mere mention of the names Holding, Marshall, Roberts, Croft, Garner and Patterson was enough. In cricketing circles these fast bowlers are known by a single name. They need no introduction because they were part of the most fearsome and formidable quartets of pace bowlers to have ever played the game. For 20 years, the West Indies, under Clive Lloyd and then Sir Viv Richards, unleashed a furious onslaught on opponents. It was compelling viewing although admittedly sometimes between fingers with hands over eyes.

When children said they wanted to start playing cricket, it was best if their mothers had not been watching the West Indies bowling as they would refuse and take them off to safer pastimes such as rugby or base jumping.

But it was beautiful. There is no greater sight in cricket than a fast bowler in his pomp. Just the whisper of one coming on sends an expectant buzz around the ground and the bars empty as spectators hasten back to their seats. Fast bowler versus batsman is gladiatorial combat.

However, since the mid-1990s West Indies cricket has been in decline due to inter-island feuds, cricket boards squandering money and kids moving on to other sports.

The legacy of Lloyd and Richards has been lost. The pride they created in their team is beautifully documented in the superb film Fire in Babylon but any movie made about West Indies cricket since would have to be a farce. And yet there is talent there.

If the sun comes out and the pitches harden for this summer’s three-Test series in England, spectators will once again catch a glimpse of real pace bowling.

Kemar Roach, Fidel Edwards and Andre Russell are seriously quick. They have plenty of firepower to make the English batsman hop and jump, which does not bode well for the out-of-form skipper Andrew Strauss.

In the recent home series against Australia, Roach was superb. In three Test matches he took 19 wickets at under 20 runs apiece. That is a simply outstanding return and they were the best figures on either side, which is a considerable achievement considering West Indies lost the series 2-0.

He bowled with genuine pace and also a very good length, and if Roach can replicate that form he will take wickets in England.

What he needs is support. Edwards is fiery but can be expensive, Ravi Rampaul is a medium pacer and then there is the confusing selection of Darren Sammy, the captain. His bowling is not good enough and neither is his batting and yet he has performed a most difficult role as captain.

The truth is if West Indies Board could resolve their differences with the likes of Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan there would be no need for Sammy. Russell could play instead which would add some menace to the attack.

Shane Shillingford also provides spin with his off-breaks so the basis of a developing bowling attack is present. Under the shrewd tutelage of coach Ottis Gibson this West Indies group could be moulded into a competitive squad, exactly what cricket in that part of the world needs. The batting, however, is currently a shambles.

Get a score in domestic cricket and you are in, seems to be the selection policy and that is partly because former skipper Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan are unavailable. Youngsters such as Darren Bravo, Brian Lara’s cousin, would benefit greatly from having such experience around. Bravo is a talented left-hander, averages a tad under 50 from 16 matches and likes to bat for a long time. He should be the developing youngster surrounded by wiser heads. Instead he is already one of the main players.

Indeed the only senior batsman left is the impressive Shivnarine Chanderpaul. He just keeps going and going. His open stance, cross-stump shuffle and wristy work through the covers or past square leg have garnered over 10,000 Test runs. He is as ungainly at 37 years old as he was at 17 but no one can doubt his effectiveness.

He was man of the series against Australia and has just become the No.1 ranked Test batsman. His appetite for cricket remains but he cannot go on forever. If he goes, the rest of the batting would not trouble a county second team.

There is much to look forward to in the matches at Lord’s, Trent Bridge and Edgbaston but possibly the most important work for West Indies cricket could, indeed should, be going on off-field. They absolutely need to find a negotiated compromise with their absent players or else they will revert to being a laughing stock.

They have recruited a superb coach, they must now accommodate their best players and return West Indies cricket to the thrilling style and excitement they provided for so many great years.