Dear Editor,

Thoughtful and reasonable cricket lovers will want to congratulate the West Indies cricket team in Australia for a very creditable performance on the tour. An abysmal display in the first Test is completely understandable. Tony Cozier deserves thanks for a most trenchant response to those Aussie commentators who so unfairly trashed the team after that first Test.

Much to the surprise of many, the boys rebounded with character, outplayed the Australians in the second Test, and gave them a run for their money in the third. But for a batting collapse in the first innings – the batting fell away in the second innings of the last Test too – we might just have pulled it off, even with a weakened side and lack of adequate pre-match preparation.

Over 300 runs in each innings after bowling out the Aussies for a measly 150 runs in their second innings, deserves our applause.

We all want them to win. But behind the results are encouraging signs, even in the face of a 0 to 2 loss and failure to regain the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy. Two improving results do not a winner make, but could be signs of a champion in the making. What should be expected of them right now is steady improvement as they fight to give of their confident and fearless best in every match.

Which brings me to the treatment of Sulieman Benn by the match referee in the Third Test. Something does not seem right about the punishment meted out to him. Benn was suspended for two ODIs. Haddin was fined 25 per cent of his match fee, and Johnson 10 per cent. A further explanation is warranted in order for us to judge the fairness of the sanctions against him, compared to Haddin and Johnson. Media reports raise doubts in my mind.

Benn confronted a player who tried to intimidate if not threaten him with a bat for something of which he was not guilty.

Until we know more about this incident that could justify the disparity in sanctions against him vis a vis the other two players, we are inclined to think he was done an injustice. WI cricket lovers and the sport’s administrators should take exception to this and seek an explanation.

If the punishment turns out to be unfair, we should protest vehemently, both officially and publicly.

H Dale Anderson

Kingston 6