He Tore A Hamstring Dot Mee Dot UK

When We Were Kings

“When We Were Kings”, a fascinating insight into the iconic Rumble in the Jungle, between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. If Ali was ‘The Greatest’, both self-proclaimed and in the eyes of many experts, I wanted to take the phrase and relate it to another sport.

Whilst the Australians may argue about their side of the 1990s and early 2000s, it is widely believed that the West Indies, particularly of the 1970s and 1980s, are the greatest of all time. They truly were Kings, Calypso Kings or Caribbean Kings, as they were described.

They struck fear into the hearts of opponents the world over, with their wonderfully entertaining batsmen, and fearsome fast bowling. Whilst the 70s and 80s were undoubtedly their ‘heyday’, they had been producing world-class cricketers for many years.

The mystique of West Indian cricket is possibly best described by an Englishman, Garry Steckles, a great student of Caribbean culture who was the biographer for non other than Bob Marley. He wrote in the Toronto Star in September 2009:

What a story it was. For decade after glorious decade, teams put together from a collection of tiny Caribbean nations – there’s no such country as the West Indies – ruled the world. And they ruled imperiously, with style, with panache, with the sort of swagger that no other cricketers, no matter how talented they were, could hope to match

It was called Calypso Cricket … and it was a wondrous thing.

Each victory was savoured and celebrated, and beating England, the former colonial masters of every cricket-playing Caribbean country, was the biggest source of joy.

For those that know me best, and who have maybe been confused at my ability to shout loudly for the England Rugby and Football teams, whilst baying for the blood of England’s cricketers, maybe the above will give an insight.

Regardless of who first uttered the phrase about comparison being odious, it often remains true. A friend of mine recently challenged me to name my ‘All-Time’ West Indian XI … now that is odious, challenging and to be pretty honest nearly impossible!! But never one to shirk a challenge, I have responded!

In so doing, I wanted to put out the same challenge to all of you. At the moment, it is simply a project of curiosity and interest to gather opinion, but it may turn into something larger at some point. At the moment, I will poll all votes and announce the final team on Wednesday June 30th, after the Final Test between West Indies and South Africa.

I have included the video clip just to remind you of some of the legends that have adorned Caribbean cricket

Please send your selection of eleven to calypso@hetoreahamstring.me.uk.

I have put my team together, and I am sure that few will agree. As with everyone, there will probably be more debate about those not there, than those present. But remember, like mine, it is all about personal choice!

So without further ado, these are my selections for the Greatest XI of the West Indies.

• Cuthbert Gordon GREENIDGE
• Conrad Cleophas HUNTE (Sir)
• Isaac Vivian Alexander RICHARDS (Sir)
• Brian Charles LARA
• George HEADLEY
• Rohan KANHAI
• Garfield SOBERS (Sir)
• Malcolm MARSHALL
• Andy ROBERTS
• Wesley HALL
• Lance GIBBS

After much thought, I give the captaincy to Vivian Richards who after all was undefeated in all series as West Indies captain. Rohan Kanhai will be wicket-keeper.

I must make a special note of 3 players not in this side. Sir Frank Worrell and Clive Lloyd are the 2 greatest captains we ever had, and of course my father, Alvin Kallicharran, one of the finest left-handers I have ever seen.

In hindsight, it is devastating to think that this team would be picked without any of The 3 W’s. Sir Frank could have been picked as captain, and Sir Clyde could have kept wicket, but I personally felt that this selection would not be representative of West Indian cricket without the selection of Rohan Kanhai, as a player of East Indian descent.

I felt that George Headley, Sir Viv and Brian Lara picked themselves, as they were truly the iconic figures of their respective eras. I could have asked one of these greats to open the innings and create a spot in the middle order, but Sir Connie Hunte’s record justifies his inclusion.

Anyway, I would back this side to defeat any other to have played our wonderful game … other than perhaps a WI 2nd XI containing the aforementioned 3 W’s, Lloyd, Kallicharran, Holding, Garner, Haynes, Ramadhin, Ambrose and Stollmeyer! Now what an occasion that would be.

I look forward to receiving everyone’s opinions, and announcing the collectively selected All-Time Greatest West Indies XI.