News Releases

Sir Hilary Beckles examines the fall of West Indies Test Cricket in newest book

For Release Upon Receipt - December 19, 2017

UWI


Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles launched his most recent monograph, Cricket without a Cause: Fall and Rise of the Mighty West Indian Test Cricketers on November 27th 2017 at the Cricket Legends of Barbados, Fontabelle, Bridgetown. In his publication, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, an avid cricketer, university academic and former West Indies Cricket Board director, critically examines the international cricket performance of the West Indies Test Cricketers, showing the crucial factors that surrounded the collapse of West Indies Test Cricket. The November 27th event was attended by notable personalities including, Acting Governor General of Barbados, Sir Philip Marlowe Greaves, Barbados Cricket Association President, Conde Riley, as well as Cricket legends, Sir Wes Hall and Sir Everton Weekes. It was one of a series of launches for the monograph which have also been held in the UK, Jamaica and most recently in St Kitts on December 16th.

Dr. Luz Longsworth, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Open Campus gave the first reading, while the second reading was done by Cricket Journalist, Mike King.  Head, Cave Hill Academy of Sport, The UWI Faculty of Sport, Amanda Reifer made the vote of thanks. In her reading, Dr. Luz Longsworth, remarked, “This book is really a story of paradise lost, of victory and defeat, of despair and hope. It is also what literary people would call a ‘cautionary tale’. One that warns of how excellence can be quickly lost by poor decision making, inflated egos, individualism, the lack of proper succession planning, the lack of grooming of our youth and the acknowledgement of the wisdom of our elders.”

Sir Hilary began his discussion stating clearly, “This is not strictly speaking a book about cricket. It is about Test Cricket in the sense that the narrative and the information in it is about the development of cricket as a culture. But this book is really about Caribbean people, whether we have the will, whether we have the focus and the commitment to solve our problems.”

Sir Hilary shone a light on the collapse of the Windies team, “from awesome to awful” and how the team was knocked from the pinnacle of Test Cricket and thrown “into the basement”. He said that lack of togetherness and pride was one of the crucial factors that contributed to the fall of team. Test Cricket, once the “gold” of the Windies brand, was devalued and diminished. He noted that it was impossible to play an outstanding game if team members were playing for themselves, rather than for country or team.

The book recognises however, that a change is coming and this current crop of players has a different mindset. The reversal of “cash before country” is taking place, thanks to the success of the Sagicor UWI High Performance Centre that has produced them. The return of the West Indies team is on the horizon.

Proceeds from book sales on the evening of the launch were donated to support The UWI’s ongoing efforts of relief for Caribbean islands affected by the devastation wrought by recent Hurricanes Irma and Maria.  Persons interested in making further donations towards this cause can do so via the online platform www.uwi.edu/relief.

 

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Photo Caption:

Professor Sir Hilary McD. Beckles autographs a copy of his new book, Cricket without a Cause: Fall and Rise of the Mighty West Indian Test Cricketers.

 

About Professor Sir Hilary Beckles

Hilary McD. Beckles is Professor of Economic History and Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI). He played youth cricket for Warwickshire County in England and while a student at Hull University, played for Hull City and Barnsley Town in the Yorkshire League. He is the founder and Director of the Centre for Cricket Research at The UWI and while serving as a director of the West Indies Cricket Board, designed and chaired its High Performance Cricket Academy. He has written several books on West Indian cricket, including a biography of Sir Everton Weekes and authored a play on the rise of Sir Gary Sobers. In 2017 he was inducted into the USA Cricket Hall of Fame. He lectures extensively on cricket history and culture. For more on Professor Sir Hilary Beckles visit www.uwi.edu/VCBiography.asp

 

About The UWI

Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged, regional University with well over 40,000 students. Today, The UWI is the largest, and oldest higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology Social Sciences and Sport. The UWI’s priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. For more information, visit www.uwi.edu.

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

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