As we debate England’s defeat to West Indies, in a series they probably should have won, a run down memory lane, and we see, teams have ruled cricketing field in the past… some with power and some with panache. Whenever a debate spurs over a cup of coffee, on who’s the best cricket team ever…certainly, 1984 team of West Indies, which toured England, hits the awakened mind.
I may appear as a practitioner of clairvoyance to say that a West Indian recovery could be on the cards as they try to come out from the shambles of recent past in which their glory was tarnished and slaughtered …over and over again.
The Queen at Lord's meeting the West Indian fast bowlers (l to r) Michael Holding, Colin Croft and Joel Garner - introduced by captain Clive Lloyd .
Their splendor of the past was lost in the dark corners of 1990s. Once a mighty force, they crumbled to dust as their series of new generation cricketers couldn’t hold, to what was build with sweat and blood …of opponents mostly!
In the last 15 years they faced defeat at home and were creamed when on travel. It was after five long years that they won a Test series at home, thanks to some resilience in the new looking West Indians side and partly, to a sluggish overcautious English response.
But the story was never like this. West Indies were the most dominant force of cricket in 1970s and 80s, arguably the best ever cricketing side.
For complete story visit:www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket_info/304/The-Summer-of-1984.htm
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