West Indies Cricket Fans Forum

--

The tragedy of Darren Bravo

(BARBADOS TODAY)In that great 1993 coming-of-age flick A Bronx Tale, the bus driver character played by actor Robert De Niro tells his young son: “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent, you can have all the talent in the world but if you don’t do the right thing then nothing happens.” West Indies batsman Darren Bravo at 29 is an ongoing tragedy. And what makes his case even worse is that he seemingly doesn’t have it between his ears to recognize his descent, or the right people around him to pull him back.

Darren Bravo

There is a connection among Bravo, England’s Joe Root, Indian’s Virat Kohli, Australia’s Steve Smith and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson. But that connection has nothing to do with what exists above their shoulders. About ten years ago these five were seen as the future of international cricket for their respective countries. Indeed, four of them introduced themselves to international audiences during the 2008 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia – Smith, Williamson, Bravo and the tournament-winning captain Kohli. Their talent was obvious and the world was their oyster. But while Smith, Williamson, Root and Kohli have gone on to fulfil and continue to fulfil their promise, Bravo has seemingly been guided by an inactive section of his cranium and his talent appears to be wasting away.

His case is perhaps the sadder because he had the jump on his contemporaries. Bravo made his debut for the West Indies in 2009 in a One-Day international and his Test debut the following year. In the former, he has to date played 94 games, scored 2595 runs with three centuries at an average of 32.03. He has played 49 Tests, scored 3400 runs with eight centuries at an average of 40. In essence, despite the obvious ability below the shoulders, he has overall been an average international player. He played his last Test in November 2016, and his last One-Day International in October of the same year.

On the other side of the world, Joe Root, 27, debuted in 2012 and has thus far played 67 Tests, scored 5843 runs with 13 centuries at an average of 52.63. Add that to his 4451 runs in 107 ODIs with 11 centuries at an average of 51.16 and he is fulfilling his promise. Kane Williamson, 27, debuted in 2010 and to date has played 65 Tests, scored 5338 runs with 18 centuries at an average of 50.35. Add to that his 5156 runs and 11 centuries at an average of 46.87 in 127 ODIs, and Williamson has repaid the investment the Kiwi hierarchy has made in him from his teenage days.

Despite his present troubles, Smith has – at one year younger than Bravo – already established himself as one of Australia’s all-time greats. He too debuted in 2010 and has 6199 Test runs at an average of 61.37 with 23 centuries. He has also scored 3431 runs with eight centuries at an average of 41.84 in 108 ODIs. The other modern-day titan, Kohli, is the darling of Indians at home and abroad because he produces for India in abundance. The 29-year-old wears the Ashoka Chakra on his chest with pride. It is a pride that in 66 Tests has seen him score 5554 runs at an average of 53.40 with 21 centuries and 9 588 runs in 208 ODIs at the astounding average of 58.10 with 35 centuries.

Those four have left Bravo in the proverbial dust, though he had a head start on all of them. Ironically, they have succeeded with varying degrees of adversity. Kohli, Smith and Root had brief periods where they were omitted from their national sides. But their strength of character and dedication to the game and their people have seen them all succeed. Meanwhile, Bravo remains pouting on the sidelines like a prima donna in pampers.

He has had a beef with Cricket West Indies. So what! He is not the first nor will he be the last. Sir Garfield Sobers had issues with the West Indies Cricket Board after his Rhodesia excursion in 1970 but that did not derail his career nor diminish his greatness. Clive Lloyd had issues with the West Indies Cricket Board but that did not derail his career nor diminish his standing as the father of the golden era of West Indies cricket. Sir Frank Worrell had issues with the West Indies Cricket Board and endured a torturous road to the captaincy of the team. However, that did not diminish the halo around his head in the estimation of everyone privileged to stand in his presence or to watch him on the cricket field. Brian Lara, Sir Vivian Richards, Chris Gayle, Desmond Haynes, have all had issues with regional cricket’s hierarchy at some stage of their careers but it did not distract them from producing on the field or answering the call to play for the West Indies. At the end of the day, these gentlemen won the hearts of the masses by their feats in the middle.

Bravo’s ill-advised “big idiot” tweet directed at CWI president Dave Cameron has been well documented and the facts require no repetition. But that impasse was patched. Or so we thought.  Yet, Bravo still remains brooding on the sidelines seemingly seeking the comfort of a mother’s milk. He stood down from the 2016 World Cup to play first-class cricket in the Caribbean, which he hardly played, if at all. He has consistently found one excuse after another not to play for the regional side, preferring to sign up for the Twenty20 Leagues where he scarcely gets a game and when he does, performs poorly. Other than being pleased for him that he is making money, or one being a Bangladeshi or Indian, who really gives a goat’s testicles how many runs are scored by Comilla Victorians or Kolkata Knight Riders. Where is Comilla anyhow?

Bravo hardly plays first-class cricket for Trinidad and Tobago and is quietly, without his recognizing it, becoming a blip on the West Indies cricket landscape. Perhaps the new-Brian Lara tag pinned on him at the start of his career has been too heavy a cross to bear and has contributed to this L’Enfant terrible aura that now surrounds him.

As  A Bronx Tale nears its conclusion, a caring father-figure pulls the young protagonist played by Lillo Brancato from a car occupied by some juvenile delinquents. While the youngster receives a scolding for the company he keeps, his friends drive off to commit a crime and in the process are all burnt to death. The young man was saved from his certain demise.

Bravo is not ageless nor is his talent eternal. Whoever has been advising him has been doing him an injustice. Who in Trinidad and Tobago, or elsewhere, will whisper in his ears and save him from going down in flames and becoming a forgotten footnote in West Indies cricket?

Continue reading
  1564 Hits
>

Guyana Diaspora Forum

We have a large database of Guyanese worldwide.  Most of our readers are in the USA, Canada, and the UK.  Our Blog and Newsletter  would not only carry  articles and videos on Guyana, but also other articles on a wide range of subjects that may be of interest to our readers in over 200 countries, many of them non-Guyanese  We hope that you like our selections.

It is estimated that over one million Guyanese, when counting their dependents, live outside of Guyana.  This exceeds the population of Guyana, which is now about 750,000.  Many left early in the 50’s and 60’s while others went with the next wave in the 70’s and 80’s.  The latest wave left over the last 20 years. This outflow of Guyanese, therefore, covers some three generations. This outflow still continues today, where over 80 % of U.G. graduates now leave after graduating.  We hope this changes, and soon.

Guyanese, like most others, try to keep their culture and pass it on to their children and grandchildren.  The problem has been that many Guyanese have not looked back, or if they did it was only fleetingly.  This means that the younger generations and those who left at an early age know very little about Guyana since many have not visited the country.  Also, if they do get information about Guyana, it is usually negative and thus the cycle of non-interest is cultivated.

This Guyana Diaspora Online Forum , along with its monthly newsletter, aims at bringing Guyanese together to support positive news, increase travel and tourism in Guyana and, in general, foster the birth of a new Guyana, which has already begun notwithstanding the negative news that grabs the headlines.  As the editor and manager of the publication, I am committed to delivering Blog entries and Newsletters that are politically balanced, and focused on the positive ideas we wish to share and foster among Guyanese.

AnnabellaAlzarri Joseph ban for two matches(07.11.2024, 18:41)(18:41)0
AnnabellaWhy New Zealand & South Africa don't play more test matches like Australia, England and India?(03.11.2024, 14:06)(14:06)0
SawyerPresident Ali lauds QC as symbol of excellence at 180th anniversary event(22.10.2024, 05:15)(05:15)0
EllieSerious Comment! Guyana lost because GAW forgot to switch off the stadium lights!(07.10.2024, 19:33)(19:33)0
EllieThey have more astronauts in the Hubble Space Telescope than attendees in Nigel Latrine meeting.(06.10.2024, 15:48)(15:48)0
JohannaPollard: We need to produce next batches of Bravos, Pollards, Narines(27.09.2024, 16:47)(16:47)0
JohannaDwayne Bravo parts ways with CSK, joins KKR as mentor for IPL 2025(27.09.2024, 16:38)(16:38)0
EllieDo you recall the famous Village Umpires. The ball only touch the pad Or wicket keeper appeal. Is OUT!(12.09.2024, 14:51)(14:51)0
EllieStatement from CPL: "Sherfane Rutherford is leaving the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots squad due to personal reasons and will take no further part in the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The Patriots will name a replacement in due course."

Rutherford has not had the best of seasons, with scores of 1, 0, 34 and 1.

(Photo: CPL/Getty Images)

#sport #news #newsroom #newsroomguyana #guyana
(11.09.2024, 19:05)(19:05)0
AldoJoe Root has never been featured in any Test XI Greatest. Maybe because his publicity profile is low. But it would be difficult not to include him!(03.09.2024, 10:22)(10:22)0
IslaGTT enters three-year endorsement partnership with cricketer, Shamar Joseph(30.08.2024, 17:17)(17:17)0
Islawest indies winn(27.08.2024, 18:21)(18:21)0
IslaWest Indies need 13 runs in 26 balls(27.08.2024, 18:17)(18:17)0
IslaHetmyer, FOUR, only 18 now.(27.08.2024, 18:16)(18:16)0
JerichoWho the hell send shamar Joseph to bat at number 11(16.08.2024, 11:32)(11:32)0
JerichoHappy Athanaze made runs, but in my opinion he could have been out anytime.(12.08.2024, 09:29)(09:29)0
JerichoBally Khaman
The Caribbean fans asking for more test series per a year but WI can't put together a proper test team eh ?
(03.08.2024, 18:48)(18:48)0
MarcoRiley Gaines laid into Brittney Griner for kneeling during the National Anthem. “You don’t have to sing or anything, but you need to show some respect for the country that saved you from a Russian Gulag.” ???(03.08.2024, 12:41)(12:41)0
MarleighLooking for PM...(20.07.2024, 20:51)(20:51)0
AbdullahIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes surprise Gaza visit(20.07.2024, 17:06)(17:06)0
ketchimhopefully day 3 goes as well as day 2 !(19.07.2024, 15:25)(15:25)0
Sylviarally(18.07.2024, 18:00)(18:00)0
Braxtone(18.07.2024, 08:08)(08:08)0
SantinoShamar Joseph & Gudakesh Motie Late Tour Arrival(05.07.2024, 15:23)(15:23)0
Gabriel30 from 30 balls and lost.
I have no respect for South africa!!!
(29.06.2024, 13:18)(13:18)0
AldoI'm confused on how a funeral home can raise the price of a funeral service and blame it on the cost of living.(27.06.2024, 19:35)(19:35)0
BrynleeShaheen Afridi has signed for Toronto Nationals in the Global T20 Canada, weeks after withdrawing from a £100,000 contract with Welsh Fire in the Hundred

Short-form leagues need better regulation: this should be enough for the ECB to ban Shaheen for the 2025 edition, for example
(22.06.2024, 13:48)(13:48)0
GabrielI guess all west indies fans will be rooting for England this morning how ironic(21.06.2024, 09:54)(09:54)0
GabrielFormer India fast bowler David Johnson has passed away at the age of 52 after falling from his balcony, as per reports.(20.06.2024, 06:07)(06:07)0
GabrielCan usa win the cup(19.06.2024, 08:32)(08:32)0
NasirPakistan's nervy run-chase condemns Ireland to a winless World Cup campaign(16.06.2024, 14:18)(14:18)0
GabrielUsa goes to super8(14.06.2024, 13:15)(13:15)0
NasirSaurabh Netravalkar and Harmeet Singh: two Mumbai boys living the American cricket dream(13.06.2024, 17:18)(17:18)0
NasirMotie among contenders for ICC Player of the Month(11.06.2024, 16:52)(16:52)0
ketchimUSA created History with a Super Over Victory !(07.06.2024, 09:20)(09:20)0
Nasirusa vs pakistan(06.06.2024, 10:31)(10:31)0
WarrenIcc may have to ban worldcup matches in barbados too much rain(04.06.2024, 18:51)(18:51)0
SaulChase rescues West Indies for a winning start(02.06.2024, 17:46)(17:46)0
ketchim137 - after 19 : WIN(02.06.2024, 13:45)(13:45)0
ketchimPNG : 136 - 8 after 20(02.06.2024, 11:05)(11:05)0
WarrenCome and experience the vibrant atmosphere at 230 fifth Rooftop Bar! Open all year long, we're the perfect spot to enjoy the spring and summer seasons under the sky.

No reservations required—walk-ins are always welcome! Whether you're looking to unwind with refreshing drinks or indulge in delicious food, our rooftop offers stunning views that promise unforgettable evenings.

Join us at 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar for a taste of the good life, where every visit is more than just a meal—it's a celebration!
(01.06.2024, 10:18)(10:18)0
WarrenI heard Australia played with 9 players v WI in the warm up match again
Players still absent
(31.05.2024, 16:23)(16:23)0
AldoWindies move into 4th place on T20i rankings. Let's keep climbing(29.05.2024, 12:34)(12:34)0
Aldo? BREAKING ?

Former Australia opener Joe Burns will now play for Italy, aiming to help them qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026 in honor of his late brother and grandparents. ????

Burns' brother, Dominic, passed away in February this year. With the 34-year-old not receiving a contract from Queensland for 2024-25, he decided to make the switch.

He will wear the number 85 jersey to honor his brother. ❤️

#JoeBurns #Australia #Cricket #Italy #T20WorldCup #Sportskeeda
(28.05.2024, 12:29)(12:29)0
AldoPandya has added His mother in his every bank accounts and property even before marriage.

So basically if divorce happens, Natasa Stankovic will get nothing from hardik Pandya ?

Gujarati boy for a reason ?
(27.05.2024, 11:14)(11:14)0
JourneeW.I. beat Saffies 1st T20.(23.05.2024, 18:41)(18:41)0
JourneeWest Indie Beat South Africa in 1st T20Jamaica Sabina Park(23.05.2024, 18:39)(18:39)0
ketchimSouth Africa arriving this week in Jamaica for 3 T20 b4 World Cup !(20.05.2024, 13:44)(13:44)0
ketchimLost the final Game but win series 3 games to 2 !(05.05.2024, 11:27)(11:27)0
NasirJohnson Charles 101* off 55 balls vs Nepal today

On the day the West Indies WC squad is named, a timely knock to remind us of what he is capable of
(01.05.2024, 12:09)(12:09)0
Cherish
Go to top