The passing of my beloved mom, who was 97 years younger, got here as a giant blow to me, regardless that she hadn’t been in nice well being for the final couple of years. It is rarely straightforward to lose a member of the family – that, too, probably the most central one with out whom none of us could be right here, mom. Loads of recollections come flooding by. Those are what I’ll keep in mind for no matter time I personally have on planet earth.
There have been some nice sportspersons who additionally left us through the 12 months – Shane Warne in March, and God of soccer Pele, who died simply a few days earlier than the top of the 12 months. Pele, with out the slightest doubt, was the best footballer the world has seen. While I’m no professional on the sport, when ex-greats, who’ve seen him in addition to Diego Maradona and the present pin-ups Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, name Pele one of the best ever, the judgement must be accepted. Of course, the web era could not agree, however when there’s an ideal footballer from the present era who disagrees, possibly it’s time to pause, pay attention after which dismiss the thought from the thoughts.
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Coming to proceedings from the sector of play, Saurashtra beat Mumbai outright within the Ranji Trophy for the primary time ever – that, too, in Mumbai. Make no mistake, Saurashtra is a prime crew now and has been for the final a few years. They are now not overawed of the opposition as they was once, and are actually successful nationwide trophies in all codecs of the sport. Niranjan Shah has not solely constructed a world-class stadium however has additionally given the thrust to Saurashtra cricket.
That mentioned, for a Mumbai cricketer rising up through the time when Mumbai was invincible to see a crew that was once rolled over simply beating Mumbai outright is a bitter tablet to swallow.
The West Indian slide
One can now perceive what Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Michael Holding & Co. should be feeling once they see the performances of their crew. The West Indies have at all times been a formidable crew, however the one which Lloyd moulded right into a ruthless successful machine was a crew everybody wished to keep away from. It is true that champion groups in sport don’t at all times stay on the prime, however the depths to which the West Indies have fallen is disheartening even for these gamers whom they terrorised throughout their pomp.
Steep fall: Joshua de Silva walks off after being dismissed through the fourth Test between West Indies and Australia in Adelaide in December, 2022. West Indies has at present turn into the punching bag of main worldwide groups.
| Photo Credit: AFP
The gamers haven’t misplaced their high quality unexpectedly. Instead, the opposite groups have turn into higher, simply as Saurashtra has improved in home cricket, and so are beating the previous champions comfortably. Players at present have many choices – comparable to the assorted T20 leagues on the earth – and so the inducement to play the longest format has disappeared.
County Championship in England was the principle supply of earnings for Lloyd, Richards, Holding, et al, they usually made extra cash once they performed for the West Indies. Today, the West Indies gamers who’re contracted to their Board get the quantity they’ve signed for whatever the variety of video games they play.
Knowing the temperament of the individuals of the area – they wish to dwell for at present and never fear about tomorrow – the assured quantity from the Board is sort of a disincentive to attempting something particular.
The massive stars are unavailable, busy as they’re plying their commerce within the completely different T20 leagues on the earth. So if the West Indies Board needs higher performances from its Test gamers, possibly one other methodology must be tried. For instance, if the Board has a performance-based price construction, it could definitely assist: it could make the gamers who’re coasting alongside realise that they should carry out in the event that they need to earn cash. Instead of a retainer for the 12 months, the match price for all codecs needs to be elevated significantly with a slab system the place those that have performed extra Test matches get greater than others. The second the faucet of straightforward cash is turned off, the dedication and software in direction of the job will enhance. Players will realise that solely whenever you do effectively will you be picked for the subsequent sport and get the upper match price.
If this association is deployed by each Board and the retainer system is finished away with, the so-called workload issue will turn into a factor of the previous. Players will realise that you just receives a commission solely whenever you play. They gained’t cite tiredness as the rationale for not enjoying matches for the nation.
That this may occur within the new 12 months is wishful pondering, after all. But right here’s wishing all of the readers a sporting 12 months to recollect and cherish endlessly.