A Tribute in Calypso to Sir Vivian Richards - hats off to King Short Shirt
By: Timothy Alfred

Usually when our once impregnable West Indies cricket team is wallowing in defeat after defeat, which by all accounts is definitely unbearable to the people of this wonderful Caribbean Region and else where, I endeavour to acquire a formula which on a grand scale will probably assist me to overcome the disenchantment that engulfs my body. One avenue I tend to go through for a cure is to review some nostalgic photographs of former West Indies cricket ICONS, who during their heyday were a force to be reckoned with in the game of cricket. Infact even within the small Windward and Leeward Islands there were genuine cricketers like LIVINGSTONE SARGEANT, AND LEONARD HARRIS who inspite of being categorized as batsmen of tremendous talent, they unfortunately were not able to secure a place on the then power pack West Indies test team.
But then too when I am privileged to review some of their memorable moments in regional cricket that undoubtedly is an ideal initiative that helps me to dispel the sadness deep inside me.
However overall one remedy I secured and does augur well for me is to be found in 3 extremely remarkable calypso tributes pertaining to the glory days of West Indies cricket, which were recorded many years ago, when they were pulverizing opposing teams at random. Two of those calypsos that I have had the honour via this medium to highlight are (1) AUSTRALIA by the Mighty SPARROW, in which he vents his impression of the West Indies resounding 2-1 defeat of Aussies during the 1965 tour of the West Indies.
(2) CRICKET CHAMPIONS- by the LORD KITCHENER - in that farreaching tribute the GRAND MASTER belts out with impunity why England must comprehend that our West Indies team are the true champions of CRICKET. That was after the W.I. had triumphed over England 3-1 in the 1966 test Series in England. As a result of the very meaningful manner in which those two calypso tributes were structured, I had no choice but in my own perspective to regard them as Anthems for West Indies Cricket as well as MORALE BOOSTERS, for future generations of West Indies Cricketers. It is indeed an efficient effort by those two calypso giants to have had the foresight in putting together such relevant tributes.
Other than I, there are staunch supporters of West Indies cricket in the Caribbean Basin and farther afield, who out of enduring frustration due to the demise of their team’s performance, take the initiative to specifically denounce the trend of cricket as exercised by the present crop of West Indies players. Their strategy and tactic do not match up to that of the GREATS of yesteryear, whether it be BOWLING,BATTING, or FIELDING. The passion for the game seems to be obliterated big time. In kweyol it is common to hear people reiterate with sufficient concern. (Oui, sah qui wee vay say boog nou) (what is wrong with our boys)
Those pronouncements were made as far back as when the genuine image of West Indies cricket was losing its sparkle. Not to mention the argument that surfaced between die-hard cricket fans, when the West Indies does not romp home to a resounding victory, which they should have secured. As I on many occasions have conversed with people on matters that pertain to the demise of West Indies cricket, they make me aware of some of the attributes that cause their team to succumb to defeat after defeat. In the 2008 test series against South Africa the CALYPSO BOYS won the first of 3 test remarkably well, with a day to spare. The West Indies team exhibited a brand of cricket which was reminiscent of days of old. As a result of that memorable performance fans among other people, opined that the same lineup should be retained for the 2nd test. Unfortunately adjustments was brought into focus and St. Lucia’s DARREN SAMMY was side-lined, much to the disenchantment of his ardent fans at home and abroad. Then with much a-do, people commenced venting their stress regarding that unwelcome decision by saying in a VEXED mood (garcon dey should have never excluded SAMMY, and bring in RAWLE LEWIS of Grenada. Sammy gave such a good account of himself). As for me, I was not despondent but on the contrary, I was elated that it was another player from our sister island Grenada who was selected because for far too long our cricketers have been labelled with a prevailing stigma (SMALL ISLANDER).
It is not my intention to air my views on that TEST SERIES, which South Africa won 2-1. Rather at this point in time, being an ardent music enthusiast, I am indeed honoured to bring into perspective a calypso of tremendous proportion rendered by the Antiguan calypso ICON Sir Mc Clean Emmanuel LORD SHORT SHIRT, which is a fitting tribute to the LEGENDARY West Indies batsman SIR VIVIAN RICHARDS, whose untarnished contribution to West Indies cricket, Antigua, Leeward Islands, Glamorgan, and Combined Islands, is an initiative that will endure for generations to come. I was not fortunate to have witnessed live SIR VIV exercise his astounding cricket strategy particularly at TEST level, but the newspaper stories, photographs, and film footage very much reflect in my mind the realistic greatness of Sir Viv, in the game of CRICKET, he was indeed a run machine who stood-up and scored runs with ample ease versus some of the one time prominent world acclaimed pace-like fire bowlers like former Australian Danger men DENNIS LILLEE and JEFF THOMPSON. I have studied and taken a close look at the various film footages of Sir Viv umpteen times, executing strokes, which are reminiscent of the glory days of West Indies batsmen like SIR GARFIELD SOBERS, SEYMOUR NURSE, BASIL BUTCHER, ROHAN KANHAI, SIR CONRAD HUNTE, all of whom contributed immeasurably to West Indies cricket.