James Clive Adams, better known as Jimmy Adams, was what you call a complete cricketer in the true sense of the term. The Jamaica-born southpaw, who triggered off great expectations at the beginning of his international career (1132 runs at a whopping average of 85-plus after a dozen Tests), went on to lead the West Indies and subsequently manage its junior team.
Unfortunately, the latter half of his West Indies career proved anti-climactic, especially after being appointed captain, as was found increasingly wanting in most departments of the game by his own high standards. He had probably lost his once-famous confidence after being hit hard on the face by a bouncer on the 1995 tour of England.
The West Indies were still a force to reckon with when Adams appeared on the international scene. The rot had already set in by the time he called it a day. Between 1992 and 2001, he scored 3012 runs, at 41.26 in 54 Tests and 90 innings, as a gutsy, reliable left-handed batsman. They were inclusive of six centuries (highest 208 not out) and 14 fifties.
He took 27 wickets with his slow left-arm orthodox spin bowling and held 48 catches (most of them as a fielder, not as wicketkeeper). These statistics do not mirror Adams's real genius as a cricketer with oodles of talents.
The Jamaican's association with the Dubai-based 'G Force Cricket Academy' as its head coach brought him to Rajkot on January 3. Now technical director of Jamaica cricket and influential secretary of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), Adams spoke exclusively with Haresh Pandya.
What exactly ails West Indies cricket?
Well, it's a combination of several factors. No doubt the West Indies cricket team is no longer what it used to be in the 1970s and 1980s, or even in the 1990s for that matter. There is no dearth of talent. But the players, whether they are raw or experienced, require motivation to perform to the best of their ability. The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) needs to motivate and encourage the players. Instead, we've had conflicts between the players and administrators. I've always maintained that there is a need for better and stronger leaders in the WICB.
What about the actual cricket or onfield performance of West Indies players in recent years?
The problem is they're consistently inconsistent. They tend to perform brilliantly as a team on odd occasions and raise your hopes. But suddenly they perform below par and you begin to wonder if this is the same team that had put up a remarkable show against a tough team. The present West Indies team is a good mix of youth and experience. If they learn to put up a consistent collective performance, they can give any team in the world a good run for its money. But it's not happening.
Chris Gayle was on record saying he preferred shorter versions of the game to Test cricket. Can a player with such an attitude lead a team in the heavyweight division of cricket? Can he motivate his players?
Let me tell you Chris never said he didn't like Test cricket. I think he was totally misquoted or his comments were misinterpreted. Look at the way he has been performing in Tests. Look at his Test record. Isn't it awesome? I'm convinced Chris can be a tremendous source of motivation and inspiration, both as a player and as a captain for his players. They've always stood by him and vice-versa. He has been trying his best with the limited resources at his command.
Is Dwayne Bravo one of those "resources" at Gayle's command?
Yes, of course. He is a world-class player, one of the best all-rounders in the game today, and he has long proved his ability and worth, both as a batsman and as a medium-pacer. He is a crucial player and it's difficult to imagine the West Indies team without him.
The 2007 World Cup on the Caribbean islands was expected to do good to West Indies cricket. Did the hosting of such a mega event really help?
No, it didn't, I'm afraid. The World Cup didn't help the West Indies cricket in any way. It was a failure in terms of leaving legacy of exciting cricket, too. The World Cup was expected to help improve the cricket facilities in the Caribbean. But there has not been any improvement in the infrastructural development of the game in the West Indies. Things remain more or less the same even after almost three years.
Will the West Indies ever regain its cricketing supremacy? How hopeful are you?
Well, only time will tell. Except Australia, no other team in the world today looks capable of approaching anywhere near the all-conquering West Indies side led by Clive Lloyd and Vivian Richards. Instead of thinking of regaining our supremacy, our focus right now should be on rebuilding the team and turning it into a consistently good performing unit.
Fast bowling has been the West Indies' strength since time immemorial. Are you happy with the current state of pace bowling on the Caribbean? How do you look at those fast bowlers playing for the West Indies?
We do have a good crop of young pace bowlers in the West Indies, but now there're also good spinners surfacing from time to time. Of course, you can't expect these new guys to be like those great West Indian fast bowlers. Jerome Taylor is pretty good. He is very quick and accurate. Kemar Roach is very young and full of promise. And there're several others. So the cupboard isn't bare. Not yet.
Yes, I think fast bowling will continue to be our strength. We've a history, a legacy, to inspire young cricketers to become fast bowlers.
Brian Lara has called it quits. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who is 35 and playing since 1994, may also leave the scene pretty soon. Don't you think Lara, given his fitness and form, should have continued for a couple of years more for the sake of the West Indies team?
Well, it was Brian's own decision and I think it was a right decision taken at the right time. Of course, he was still capable of producing a brilliant innings in any form of cricket. But then it's always better to retire when you're still on top of your game.
As for Shivnarine, I wish he continues serving the West Indies. He is still one of our main batsmen.
How do you view the current West Indies batting line-up?
I believe batting is the main strength of this West Indies team. In Gayle, Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Bravo we've four leading batsmen of the world. The team's fortune revolves round their batting. When they fail, the team fails. Gayle, just like your Virender Sehwag, can destroy any attack on his day. I'm quite happy with the West Indies batsmen. The only thing is they've to show a lot more application and be very consistent.
Do you think you retired at the right time? Do you regret never having played Twenty20 cricket for the West Indies?
I don't regret my decision to retire when I did. Nor do I regret never having played Twenty20 cricket for my country. But I do enjoy watching this latest version of the game. It's very interesting, very exciting. I'm a very contented man.
You were a world-class batsman and useful spinner and wicketkeeper. Though your record is not unimpressive, don't you feel you didn't do full justice to your real talent that lay in batting?
No issue at all. I'm quite happy with my cricket and my career. Whether I was good or not, whether I performed well or not, is for others to decide. I'm not worried about how history will remember me. I always tried my utmost for the West Indies in my different roles as a player. Even as a captain. I've no regrets whatsoever.
Photographs: Haresh Pandya
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