Reading riot act not the answer, Ottis
Published: T&T Guardian
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Alvin Corneal
One of the most frustrating moments for a coach is when his team is cutting a sorry picture on the field.
Those who have been in similar positions will understand clearly what failure does to the mind, especially with the coach, whose responsibility is to educate, observe, and instruct his players to help them gel as a team.
The comments made by coach Ottis Gibson about his own players do not seem to be designed to guide them towards improved performances the next time around. The threat to “ship them out” has no degree of success in bringing out the best in the players, and if anything, the players may view the comment as absolute criticism without any form of construction.
Sometimes coaches tend to believe that poor performances must lay squarely upon the shoulders of the players, which is a misconception and a serious error of judgment. Every team, every individual player of internationally acclaimed stature, has been known to have a personal coach.
For the golfer, tennis player, boxer, and swimmer, they thrive on advice and guidance from their coaches, and this includes Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, George Bovell among others.
Maybe Gibson needs to understand the dismissals of coaches at Tottenham Hotspurs, and West Bromich Albion, simply because their performances on the field reflected the quality of their coaching staff.
What is even more mysterious is that there has been no explanation as to why the batsmen have failed so miserably over the past month. There is no promise to repair the ills of the batsmen, or the intellectual approach by the bowlers, following the abysmal display and by extension, poor results. In all honesty, how could a coach account from the failure of the extraordinary talents of Kieron Powell, Jonathon Charles, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, and Kraigg Braithwaite?
Judging by the emotional comments from Gibson, what must we expect from the same players marshaled by the same coach? If he had a method in bringing an improved state of our game, why has it not shown itself on the field? Because of the absence of communication among the authority of the selection committee, the coach, and the captain regarding the choice of players for the team—especially the starting eleven—it is difficult to determine who is more guilty.
Even the supporters of the team are often heard making constructive comments regarding mistakes by batsmen, bowlers and fielders alike, hence the reason why the absence of analysis from the coach is actually unfair to home fans.
There is even the intelligent coach who sometimes can seek the expertise of some of his fellow colleagues, such as Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Bry@n Davis for his batters, and Mike Holding, Andy Roberts, and Ian Bishop for the bowlers. Unfortunately, Gibson has not taken that route or any other, which opens the door for the WICB to assume that the former Barbadian fast bowler does not have the capabilities needed to change the face of West Indies cricket.
The members of the board could not possibly be satisfied with the results and the performances of all the players, a factor that should lead them into making changes in the technical section of the game. Already, regional cricket has been in a slump for almost a decade and seems not to show any semblance of helping the young enthusiastic players to gain recognition during their stay in the team.
Hoping for better days in New Zealand is similar to playing the lotto, but as supporters of West Indies cricket, we shall continue to live in hope.
