I enjoy, and hope to continue doing so, not only your brilliant cricket commentary, but also your analysis, insight and knowledge of the game. Your love for cricket continues to fuel your quest for knowledge — knowledge which you have never guarded jealously, but instead have chosen to share with all of us mere cricket loving mortals.
Although I may not always agree with your conclusions, there is no denying the factual basis on which you formulate your opinions.
Fazeer, in my opinion, you are a member of a dying breed of cricket purists, a breed of people in whom has been inculcated an intense passion for the game.
In most cases, this pure love for the game itself has been passed on from generation to generation, a passion that allows for the retention of statistics; venues; pitch conditions; climactic conditions; strategies; tactics; team composition, and dates with consummate ease.
These statistics stick in the minds of the purists and, like a rain-soaked t-shirt, clings to the upper torso of a “Carib Girl” in the Trini Posse stand during delay caused by rain.
Fazeer, it is no secret that you detest the advent of the so-called party stand in international cricket. Obviously, to the cricket purist, music, wine, women and song are simply unnecessary for the enjoyment of a good day’s cricket. However, therein lies the problem.
The purists are simply getting older and dying out. The legacy is becoming less potent. Even the children of purists are turning to other more exciting, stimulating avenues of entertainment and recreation, which are transforming potential purists into mere fans.
An accelerated education system coupled with the parents’ desire for the fruition of their academic goals for their children simply does not afford the time necessary to invest in becoming a purist. Now throw video games, computers and the Internet into the mix and you will truly understand that the cricket purist is an endangered species.
This fact is bourne out by the dwindling gate receipts across the globe, with specific reference to Test cricket. This has been a gradual process that began way back during the latter half of the glory days.
West Indies’ fall from world supremacy has only accelerated the process, as the “everyone loves a winner” motivation to purchase Test tickets was rendered moot.
Consequently, it can be shown that the party stand phenomenon has evolved as a direct result of the very purist nature of Test cricket and not vice versa.
The five-day game has quite frankly lost its appeal to the masses. The mere fact that one has to wait a full five days for a result in a professional sport is simply untenable for those of us not gifted with appreciating the intricate nuances of the unfolding drama, as perceived and appreciated by the purists.
Furthermore, a definitive result is far from guaranteed, even if one were to persevere and stay the course.
The very nature of Test cricket ensures a preponderance of stalemates. Most other professional sports provide the fan with a result in under three hours.
Consequently, without a radical shifting of the status quo, it follows that one-day and 20/20 cricket are the wave of the future, despite the vociferous protestations of the purists.
It would be remiss of me if I fail to point out that the two major professional sports still attempting to cling jealously to tradition are cricket and golf, although it must be noted that change was thrust upon the golfing fraternity in 1996 by a young phenomenon named Tiger Woods.
The wholesale embracing of these winds of change has since breathed new life into the sport, which is flourishing under its new paradigm.
Nowadays, the party stands are totally sold out well in advance of the actual game, at prices far higher than other stands. Keep in mind, Fazeer, that sport is entertainment. Professional sport is fuelled by the fan base. Purists are a dying breed.
From this, it can only be reasonable to deduce that the party stands are actually delaying the inevitable demise of Test cricket. Without the party stands’ ability to motivate people to purchase tickets and with the numbers of cricketing purists on the decline, it would only be a matter of time before there is, in fact, no need for genius Test cricket commentators like yourself.
So Fazeer, there is simply no need to denigrate those who are not as knowledgeable as yourself. Focus on espousing the values of being a purist. Attempt to motivate, encourage and convert some of us plebians, through your genius, rather than treating us with scorn.
We are all people of a God, whatever is his or her name. Fazeer, the cricket purist should attempt to distance himself from the characteristics of a religious fanatic. The religious zealot who attempts to justify the supremacy of his beliefs by denigrating and belittling others of another religion is destined to oversee the downfall of his very faith.
However, the fanatic who professes only the virtues of his faith with pride and class may eventually see an increase in the numbers of the converted.
So finally, my dear brother Fazeer, please continue to espouse the virtues of cricket. Please continue to share your vast knowledge with us, your fans. Remember that, daily, the number of cricket purists listening to your commentary and reading your articles is diminishing.
Eventually, there may only be a motley assortment of itinerant party-goers masquerading as cricket fans for you to serve.
In conclusion, my dear Fazeer, keep in mind that there is but a very thin line between a cricket Purist and a cricket Pharisee.
Yours sincerely,
Anil Roberts.
The Trinidad Guardian -Online Edition Ver 2.0
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