=Continued=
In Globalising Cricket: Englishness, Empire and Identity, Dominic Malcolm wrote that cricket became a part of the black culture as a “constructive past time”. However, racial policy dictated that black players could become bowlers, but rarely batsmen and captain. Perhaps, it explains why West Indies later achieved supremacy in the fast bowling department. This, however, did not mean black players weren’t good batsmen. Sample this:
Between 1928 and 1960, white players only hit 25 fifties and no centuries. On the other hand, black players scored seven double centuries and 29 centuries. Racial policies, nevertheless, protected the white players from being dropped for poor performance.
While cricket was a tool for the white colonialists to show their loyalty towards the British crown, the natives saw the game as a means to fight against the racial colonialists and outplay them in their own game. Cricket became the vehicle for forging a “national cause” which transcended political divisions and bound citizens of the constituent island through the common thread of black equality.
Perhaps, cricket’s impact on the Caribbean psyche could be gauged by this quote of "whispering death" Holding:
“I have five million West Indians depending on me to perform at my best so they can walk the streets and be proud.”
Sir Vivian Richards is considered one of the greatest batsman to have played the game of cricket. Getty Images
Social commentator CLR James – popularly called CLR – is considered a legend in the West Indies. One of the few cricket writers to look at the game beyond its technicalities, CLR was instrumental in helping Frank Worrell become the first black captain. For CLR, Worrell’s appointment was a major step towards black empowerment in the Caribbean.
Nevertheless, while individual performances of Worrell, Garfield Sobers, Alf Valentine, Everton Weeks and Wes Hall grabbed people’s attention, the team remained an underdog.
The 1975 tour to Australia was a major turning point for the islanders. The Clive Lloyd led-West Indies were trashed 5-1, and ridiculed – often with racial overtones – for their inability to withstand bouncers. Learning his lessons from the debacle, Lloyd encouraged his bowlers to exploit their impressive height to bowl lethal bouncers. The strategy worked wonderfully against India and England.
The late Tony Grieg unwittingly helped consolidate black pride in the constituents of West Indies. Days before the 1976 tour, Grieg mocked the West Indies’ bowling attack, vowing to make them “growel” – an apparent reference to the slavery era. Driven by a sense of revenge, the West Indian bowlers targeted Grieg, as the all-rounder failed with bowl and could score only 51 runs in eight innings. The West Indies won the series 3-0.
=To be Continued=