West Indies Test Series v. England (2015) & The Parallel Indian IPL.

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by Anura Guruge

Other Related posts:
a/ IPL 2015 opening ceremonies.
b/ Farewell to Richie Benaud.
c/ WI v England 2015 on Willow.
d/ Host v Host Final?
e/ South Africa did not prevail.
f/ ICC WCC 2015 memorabilia.
g/ Picking SA over NZ in 1st Semi.
h/ SA v SL — match fixing?   … … …

>> Sling TV, DishWorld & Willow Cricket.
>> ICC World Cup 2015 with Roku.

++++ Check Category ‘Cricket’ for many other related posts >>>>

Click to access original, at ESPN CricInfo, by Tony Cozier.

I am, these days, spoilt for choice when it comes to cricket! I watch the Indian IPL on ESPN Cricket 2015 while having my late lunch and then watch the WI v. England Test on Willow on Sling TV — this abundance of cricket made possible, for I, thanks to the irreproachable Roku 3. To begin with, mainly because I had NOT given it any thought, I did not put 2 & 2 together that some qualified West Indies players MIGHt not be around because they were playing in the IPL. Then it began to slowly dawn on me — and with that get me kind of slightly riled.

I never thought the day would come when I would ever say this, because I do like him and he has given me (for a man) much pleasure. But, Chris Gayle being in India does not bother me a jot. I am done and over with Chris. Yes, of course, I enjoyed his 215 in the World Cup — but it was kind of bogus because he was out. Chris is history. Not so with Sunil Narine and maybe even Dwayne Bravo. They, if they were needed, should be playing for the WI in the Test, not poncing about in India in their colored pyjamas. [Well you do know, that deep down, when push comes to shove, I am, per my vintage, a cricket purist. Men in white playing with a red ball, deep down, is more gratifying than players scurrying around in colored garb.]

Shame. Of course I remember the genesis of all of this with Kerry Packer in the 1970s. I was very wrapped up in that. Yes, yes, yes. I understand. Money. But it still makes me sad.

But this has crystallized something that came to mind during the World Cup. The West Indies as a CRICKET TEAM should be history. An anachronism. There is no country called the West Indies. So there should be NO cricket team. More on that on a later post.