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Lambert over Gayle for Jamaica's captaincy
published: Thursday | October 4, 2007
Anthony Foster, Contributor
WHAT DOES it take to be the player who dons the title of captain on a cricket team?
Do you have to be the best player on the team? Do you have to be the most experienced? Do you have to be the man the team likes best? Or do you have to be the person who can garner the most respect from all persons in and around the game?
These are the questions that have come to my mind when I look at the decision of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) to appoint Chris Gayle captain of Jamaica's team to the KFC Cup one-day tournament in Guyana later this month.
Before I look at the other candidate, let's assess what the Ruddy Williams-chaired selection panel took into consideration.
It has been said many times that Gayle would garner most support from the players but is this the truth? From what I know, being around the team and talking to players, most if not all with Test experience support and would be happy with Tamar Lambert as captain.
Successful record
It was also said that Lambert would not get the support of the Test players, but I know of Test players who would support anyone as captain.
To me, Lambert should have been captain and for a number of reasons.
Lambert boasts a successful record as captain. He first led Jamaica to the inaugural West Indies Under-15 Championship in 1996 and then the Under-19 team to success in 1999.
In eight matches in charge of the senior team, over a two-year period, Lambert is yet to lose - winning five and drawing three (all first innings).
He also was the captain when Jonathan Grant reached three consecutive Sunlight Cup finals - (1997-1999) and has been a successful captain at the club level - guiding St. Catherine CC to the double in 2006, his only full year in charge.
Adding to that, I think Lambert is one of the friendliest and most disciplined players on the Jamaica team. His knowledge of the game is second to none on this team and, with his track record, the selectors should not have by-passed him for Gayle. In the recent trial matches, watching both captains at work, Lambert looked superior to Gayle and it showed in the results.
The selectors believe Gayle, like Wavell Hinds two years ago, is in line to captain the West Indies and it was because of this that they named him captain.
Job for the best man
Now, this is where, in my personal opinion, I have a problem because I believe the best man should captain my team ... regardless of his international experience.
Marlon Tucker is considered by many as the best Jamaican captain ever, though he never played for the West Indies.
He won the Shell Cup in 1998, the year he replaced Michael Holding, which many believe forced the great paceman into retirement.
Tucker led Jamaica in 14 matches, winning six, drawing five and losing three, despite a relatively poor record of 740 runs at 18.97.
With the ball he took 61 wickets at 28.54 with a career best 6-38.
While I am not saying Gayle cannot do the job or cannot lead the team to its first regional one-day victory in eight years, I have to ask what if he fails, like Hinds did? What do the selectors do? Turn to Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell or even Marlon Samuels, who I have learnt Gayle is lobbying for to be his deputy.
Just because they play for the West Indies does not make them captaincy material. Still, let's wait and see.
If I were Lambert, I would say to the selectors and the JCA, 'please, don't consider me as captain nor vice-captain again as I want to concentrate on my batting ... let Chris and his friends take charge'.
Feedback: anthony.foster@gleanerjm.com
published: Thursday | October 4, 2007
Anthony Foster, Contributor
WHAT DOES it take to be the player who dons the title of captain on a cricket team?
Do you have to be the best player on the team? Do you have to be the most experienced? Do you have to be the man the team likes best? Or do you have to be the person who can garner the most respect from all persons in and around the game?
These are the questions that have come to my mind when I look at the decision of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) to appoint Chris Gayle captain of Jamaica's team to the KFC Cup one-day tournament in Guyana later this month.
Before I look at the other candidate, let's assess what the Ruddy Williams-chaired selection panel took into consideration.
It has been said many times that Gayle would garner most support from the players but is this the truth? From what I know, being around the team and talking to players, most if not all with Test experience support and would be happy with Tamar Lambert as captain.
Successful record
It was also said that Lambert would not get the support of the Test players, but I know of Test players who would support anyone as captain.
To me, Lambert should have been captain and for a number of reasons.
Lambert boasts a successful record as captain. He first led Jamaica to the inaugural West Indies Under-15 Championship in 1996 and then the Under-19 team to success in 1999.
In eight matches in charge of the senior team, over a two-year period, Lambert is yet to lose - winning five and drawing three (all first innings).
He also was the captain when Jonathan Grant reached three consecutive Sunlight Cup finals - (1997-1999) and has been a successful captain at the club level - guiding St. Catherine CC to the double in 2006, his only full year in charge.
Adding to that, I think Lambert is one of the friendliest and most disciplined players on the Jamaica team. His knowledge of the game is second to none on this team and, with his track record, the selectors should not have by-passed him for Gayle. In the recent trial matches, watching both captains at work, Lambert looked superior to Gayle and it showed in the results.
The selectors believe Gayle, like Wavell Hinds two years ago, is in line to captain the West Indies and it was because of this that they named him captain.
Job for the best man
Now, this is where, in my personal opinion, I have a problem because I believe the best man should captain my team ... regardless of his international experience.
Marlon Tucker is considered by many as the best Jamaican captain ever, though he never played for the West Indies.
He won the Shell Cup in 1998, the year he replaced Michael Holding, which many believe forced the great paceman into retirement.
Tucker led Jamaica in 14 matches, winning six, drawing five and losing three, despite a relatively poor record of 740 runs at 18.97.
With the ball he took 61 wickets at 28.54 with a career best 6-38.
While I am not saying Gayle cannot do the job or cannot lead the team to its first regional one-day victory in eight years, I have to ask what if he fails, like Hinds did? What do the selectors do? Turn to Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell or even Marlon Samuels, who I have learnt Gayle is lobbying for to be his deputy.
Just because they play for the West Indies does not make them captaincy material. Still, let's wait and see.
If I were Lambert, I would say to the selectors and the JCA, 'please, don't consider me as captain nor vice-captain again as I want to concentrate on my batting ... let Chris and his friends take charge'.
Feedback: anthony.foster@gleanerjm.com
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