The Cricket and the West Indies

Today, the West Indies faced yet another defeat in India.

But my mind travels back to the 1970s — the golden era of West Indian cricket. There were no live telecasts then, no highlight reels. The only way to hear cricket was through the radio commentary. Otherwise, we had to wait for the next news bulletin to know the score.

Even though the West Indies team often defeated India, we — the Indian youth of those times — admired them with a mixture of awe, fear, respect, and wonder for their incredible cricketing skills.

Their strength was like that of a bull, their power like a lion, and their size like an elephant! Standing beside them, our own heroes like Sunil Gavaskar or Gundappa Viswanath looked almost fragile. For nearly two decades, they were an unbeatable team — a perfect balance of batting and bowling.

Their batting lineup featured giants like Vivian Richards, Gordon Greenidge, and Desmond Haynes. Their bowling attack was a terrorizing force — Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, and Malcolm Marshall — each one a legend in his own right.

To dismiss their batters was almost a Bhagiratha prayaṭnam — a near-impossible mission. Before you managed to take the first four wickets, you would already be exhausted. Their power was something extraordinary! If the ball found the edge — it went for a boundary; if it hit the middle — it was a six!

But it wasn’t just raw power; it was combined with flawless technique. The casual yet precise footwork of Lloyd or Roberts was sheer beauty. A commanding sweep, a graceful cut, or an elegant drive — all executed with discipline and dignity.

Their bowlers were a nightmare for opponents.

Michael Holding, the “Whispering Death,” combined deadly pace with astonishing accuracy.

Andy Roberts, smart and relentless.

Joel Garner, towering and fearsome, extracting bounce from any pitch.

Malcolm Marshall, perhaps the most complete fast bowler ever — with speed, swing, and cunning.

If an umpire didn’t give an out, they would just smile and say, “Let’s see in the next ball.” That was their confidence — no tantrums, no angry appeals, no DRS or replay protests like today.

I still remember an incident at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai — Gavaskar was run out by nearly a yard. The umpire didn’t give him out. Lloyd simply smiled and walked away. What grace!

Of course, today it feels good when India wins — but to see the once-mighty West Indies losing without a fight feels strange and sad.

Many reasons are discussed — poor administration, lack of funds, and inability to maintain strong pitches. Whatever the reasons, it’s painful to see young lions falling, while the old ones watch silently from the pavilion.

In our hearts, they will always remain the eleven unmatched lions who once ruled the cricketing world.