West Indies commentator Fazeer Mohammed banned from interviewing players over criticism of tourists
Date
December 28, 2015 - 4:59PM
Chris Barrett and Andrew Wu
The best performing West Indian this summer hasn't been on the field but in the commentary box, with Fazeer Mohammed offering insightful analysis of the game in the Caribbean on the national broadcaster's radio coverage.
However, it appears some of the Trinidadian's robust remarks about the lowly state of affairs have been a little too close to the bone for some. Broadcasting in the outfield before play with his ABC colleagues at the MCG, Mohammed was told by a West Indies official that their players would no longer be participating in interviews with him here.
Phil Simmons, the West Indies head coach, is understood to have made the call, taking exception to questions Mohammed raised about the team's preparation for the Boxing Day Test in an interview with a Barbados radio station last week. Mohammed, the only media figure from the Caribbean on this tour, had claimed their training lacked intensity and purpose in contrast to Australia's sessions in Melbourne.
The irony is that Simmons himself was suspended from his duties - by the West Indies Cricket Board - in September for public comments he made, questioning selections for the one-day leg of their Sri Lanka tour that preceded this series against Australia. A West Indies spokesman declined to comment when approached about the matter by The Tonk.
Windies hopefully will fight for a good cause
The belated fight shown by the West Indies has almost certainly come too late to save the series but it might help those involved in the McGrath Foundation sleep a bit easier. The Windies' poor performances this summer raised the possibility of an embarrassing scenario: Jane McGrath Day being overshadowed by an early finish.
If the Hobart Test is to be replicated in Sydney the Pink Test would finish midway on day three, which would put a dampener on what has been an annual SCG highlight. Let's hope that is not the case though some more fight by the Windies batsmen would not go astray. As for day three not going ahead at all, the chances of that are slim. There's been only one Test finished in two days in Australia - in 1931.
The Windies are trying, says Richardson
The West Indies have given the impression they are too cool for school but don't mistake that for a lack of care. That's the view of their team manager Richie Richardson, who was part of the superstar Windies teams of the 1980s and 90s. Those sides were also ultra relaxed, Richardson pointed out, but did not have their attitude criticised because they were winning. "When we were doing well we used to be pretty cool, pretty laid back, pretty lackadaisical," Richardson said on ABC Grandstand. "We were doing well, people saw it as being cool. Now with the same approach, attitude, [people say] they're not interested and stuff like, so we have to be very, very careful, we have to be cognisant of that as well." Richardson believes the players are trying their best but conceded they "could give a bit more at times". Richardson is soon to leave his post to take up a position as an ICC match referee.
sydneymorningherald