Who is popular today?

THE EDITOR: Congratulations to the West Indies T20 team on an outstanding series victory in emphatic fashion against England. Commiserations to the English lads, not for the first time right – wink, wink.
Criticise them when they get it wrong but praise them when they get it right. There is a way to lose, like the second T20 where we lost by one run, but the WI wasn’t disappointed because our cricketers put the visitors to the sword and they walked back to the dressing room with their heads held high.
The outcome of matches like that can go either way. However our boys put in an excellent shift. If the WI goes down, it goes down fighting – and for us the Windies fans. That’s all we can ask for.
Mad respect to captain Kieron Pollard and the CWI as they have been on the receiving end of heavy criticism for recent performances and selections. Hopefully this victory shuts up the haters and humbles a few commentators. Sacking selectors chairman Roger Harper and a bold stance on fitness (Shimron Hetmyer) have proven, so far, to to be bearing improved performances on the field.
As predicted, it was always the beginning of a rebuilding phase, where young and hungry talent was being groomed to take over the mantle under the guise of a veteran giant.
As a diehard WI fan I strongly condemn the outrageous reports of dressing-room unrest with regard to dropping Odean Smith for Rovman Powell. There is no room for that kind of “kuchoor” and bad-mind from past sour-grapes players and mischief-makers. They should be smacked for six.
Let’s not forget that Evin Lewis and Obed McCoy, who are nursing injuries, are eagerly awaited to be back in maroon colours. It’s a good selection headache to have. Competition for places boosts the overall performance of the team.
All in all, the WI is on the right track to challenge for the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Let this group gel and develop a unique team identity that can rub off in the ODI format to challenge for the ODI World Cup 2023 in India.
Rally round the WI for the tour of India February 6-20. WI, play hard, party harder!
KENDELL KARAN
via e-mail
The post Outstanding series victory by WI appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.