1975, the year of the inaugural edition of the world cup, the era when
the Lords of Cricket, England and Australia were in the best of their forms,
the era when the World Cricket took the first real step towards the
Globalization of the game. That was the year, the West Indian Army of the Black
Pearls lead by the Great Clive Lloyd clinched the first ever World Cup on the
English soil and announced their arrival in the World Cricket with a BANG!
Year changed but the the event, the venue and the result didn't. Once
again in 1979 the Lords of the Cricket were unexpectedly defeated by the
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. That was the time of the West Indian Cricket. Players
like Lloyd, Ambrose, Sir Vivian Richards became the Masters of the game but the
CHAMPIONS failed to make the mark ever again.
After 1979 it always had been the story of semi-finals and group stages
but never did they climb to the top of the ladder again.
35 years passed and then came the CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2004, the feeling of
being triumphant rose again on the Caribbean islands but it didn't last long,
in fact it was the last joy before the GLOOMY FUTURE.
The RISE of 2011 and the fall of the West Indian Cricket shocked the
West Indian cricket. The conflicts between the Board and the players forced an
entirely new squad in the mega event of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Though
talented yet the inexperienced bunch of the Caribbean players was knocked out
from the Quarter Finals.
Finances forced the young lads to step down from the international squad
but meanwhile, unnoticed, the aggression got harder, potential started to reach
the skies and the leagues around the world turned the West Indian coal to pure
DIAMOND.
DARREN SAMMY, DJ BRAVO, CH GAYLE, SUNIL NARINE, SAMUEL BADREE... Keep on
counting the names and you'll keep on getting a T20 Master one after another
and the Masters out classed they're competitors to win their 1st ever ICC WORLD
T20 in 2012.
West Indies believed, the cheers roared and the Caribbean celebration
begin. It was the time when people thought about their revival but the
nightmare was not to be over so quickly. Years passed by and 2015 arrived, the
darkest year in the history of WEST INDIAN CRICKET. The old story of the West
Indian Board and the players caused the worst ever tragedy for the Windies.
A poor cricketing year in 2013-14, big loss from Ireland in ICC WORLD
CUP 2015, and an excellent Bangladeshi year thrashed the 2004 winners out of
the 2017 Champions Trophy 2017. West Indies couldn't even qualify for the Mega
Event. It was a dead end in front of the West Indian nation. Days passed by and
the West Indian Cricket was being cornered day by day.
On the Christmas’ eve of 2015 every West Indian cricket fan requested
Santa Claus to bring back the honor they had, the respect they had earned,
bring back what had been lost for eternity and what couldn't be redeemed. Santa
honored them.
This time the young boys lead the way. West Indies U19 had a series of
tough matches against the Asian giants. A quarter final against Pakistan U19, a
semifinal against Bangladesh U19 and the big final against India U19. The first
ever FINAL for the youngsters from Windies brought up the first ever West
Indian U19 World Cup Victory. They rejoiced and they had every right to do so.
A month later, it was the seniors turn to step up. They had a hard way
to cover. No support from their own board made it even harder for them. This
required maturity and integrity of the team and they displayed it. They had it,
the sportsmanship, the brotherhood, the harmony, the integrity.
"Win we rejoice, loss we
congratulate." The agenda of the West Indies gave the real meaning to
the sport. They danced when they won and danced along others when they lost. Men and women continued the journey and against all odds made their way
to the big FINALS.
6! 6! 6! 6! And
it was done! Boys lead the way, Women followed the path and Men completed the
trail. 2016 had been the year of the West Indian Cricket. The U19 World Cup
2016, Women’s ICC World T20 2016 and the Men’s ICC World T20 2016, all belong
to one nation, WEST INDIES.
Yes! Santa fulfilled the wish. The respect was back, the magic was back
and the team which was almost disavowed by her own Board was now in King's
Crown.
Call them whatever you want to, criticize them all your life but they
are the CHAMPIONS OF GAME, they are the CHAMPIONS FROM HEART, they played the
game with the spirit of the game, they played for their nation, they made their
way out of the hard times and now they stand tall as CHAMPIONS. Now, EVERYBODY
KNOWS DARREN SAMMY IS A CHAMPION, EVERYBODY KNOWS WINDIES ARE A CHAMPION.
Give them the RESPECT they DESERVE!
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