48 Hours: Calypso back in the rhythm

By RICHARD BOOCK


Say what you like about the West Indies cricketers, but they know how to celebrate a triumph.

One of world cricket's most famous and colourful sides, the West Indies awakened from their lengthy slumber yesterday morning when they beat England by two wickets in a riveting Champions Trophy final at the Oval.

It was a delicious ending to the knockout tournament, not only because it was such a nail-biting affair down the stretch, but also because it provided the West Indians with a chance to dance in delight again - for the first time in quarter of a century.

In fact, if the aftermatch scenes at the historic old ground were any guide, the West Indies might be an outside bet in the modern dance section of the next MTV awards, with top-order batsman Wavell Hinds taking centre-stage.

Barely had the winning runs been struck than the boundary gate was almost knocked off its hinges by the West Indian outpouring, as team-mates raced to congratulate tail-ender Ian Bradshaw and his batting partner, Courtney Browne.

The pair had come together with their side almost down for the count at 147 for eight, at which stage the winning total of 218 looked about as faraway as the galaxy Andromeda.

But, with a record and unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 71, Bradshaw and Browne slowly whittled away at the target, frustrating their opponents with smart running and risk-free batting until the winning runs were struck in the 49th over.

It was, in the main, a most uncalypso-like effort from Brian Lara's side, but it was the stuff dreams were made of, providing not only the West Indies but also world cricket a well-overdue shot in the arm.

Not since 1979, when Clive Lloyd's team beat Australia in the final of the World Cup, has a West Indian skipper held an international trophy aloft, and in the past decade in particular, the once all-powerful confederation has been in steep decline.

The team that were once the most feared on the planet are now languishing in eighth place on the ICC's test ranking ladder, and have performed only slightly better in the shorter game.

It wasn't that long ago that the West Indies were crushed by South Africa, Australia and New Zealand in successive series, and it was only two years ago that they lost their first home test series to Stephen Fleming's tourists.

Still with plenty of concerns after being hammered by England in the recent test series, the class of 2004 will have at least given themselves a more optimistic vision of the future, not to mention their home supporters some cheerful news after the ravages of Hurricane Ivan.

And if ever a cricketing region deserved a boost, it was the West Indies.

One of the few successful confederations in the world of sport, it consists of a group of nations who have managed to co-operate for the sake of the greater good, an effort that the Pacific Island rugby teams might possibly learn something from.

It is an immensely more difficult operation than that faced by stand-alone organisations such as New Zealand Cricket or the New Zealand Rugby Union, but the West Indies have proved that it can work - albeit with associated difficulties.

Certainly, the spirit of the alliance appeared to be alive and well at the Oval yesterday morning, as flags from Grenada, Jamaica and Barbados flew, amid a frenzy of horns, penny-whistles and general dancing in the aisles.

Even the English supporters, who must have fancied an early ending after such a strong bowling effort from the home side, couldn't begrudge the West Indies this moment, and almost looked pleased to see their old foes back in business.

For the time being, at least ...

High Point: The recall of Donna Loffhagen to the Silver Ferns squad for the upcoming series against Australia. You can't have too much experience against the old enemy.

Low Point: Auckland's scratchy display against Southland. It got them five points but Orene Ai'i's ill-advised drop goal attempt when a try was needed nearly blew it for their slim semis chances.