West In dies played such good cricket in the build up to, and on occasions during the ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup which ends today, that extreme disappointment at their fall in the Super Eight phase is entirely understandable.

Yet, it’s worth remembering that early last year and the year before, our 20-over and 50-over (white-ball) teams fell by the wayside in qualifiers for World Cup tournaments.

Hence the pride expressed by T20 Captain Mr Rovman Powell at the way his players fought even when they seemed down and out — including that narrow Super Eight defeat to outstanding South Africa who face powerful, confident India in the World Cup final in Barbados.

We agree with Mr Powell that it required “tremendous work” for the former two-time world T20 champions to have moved from number nine in the ICC T20 rankings to number three in just one year.

That stirring fightback against New Zealand, led by 25-year-old Guyanese Mr Sherfane Rutherford which helped West Indies to a 13-run win in the first-round group stage — ensuring a place for the Caribbean side in the Super Eight — will stick in the memory.

That performance underlined the combative spirit of which Mr Powell spoke so glowingly.

And while it’s only speculation, we suspect a prolonged rain-break, which rendered the ball soaking wet and difficult to grip for spinners, may have made the difference between victory and defeat in that low-scoring clash with South Africa.

Like Mr Powell, we believe that the performance of his players has brought “some buzz” back to West Indies cricket, with Caribbean people “rallying” around their team in a manner not seen for a long time.

Subliminally at least, we suspect that buzz and rallying was boosted earlier this year by the West Indies red-ball team in their sensational Test match victory over Australia — inspired by another Guyanese, fast bowler Mr Shamar Joseph.

That totally unexpected Test match triumph — the first over Australia in that country in 27 years — earned the Caribbean side a well-nigh unbelievable 1-1 series draw.

It reminds us of that three-match Test series in England coming up next month.

Only three members of the T20 squad are part of that red-ball touring group, most of whom are already at a training camp in England.

Regardless of results, we expect that never-say-die attitude — shown by Mr Kraigg Brathwaite’s Test squad in Australia and again by Mr Powell’s men in the T20 World Cup — to be replicated.

We note that veteran fast bowling hero Mr Kemar Roach has withdrawn from the tour squad because of injury, making way for the talented 28-year-old Kittitian swing bowler Mr Jeremiah Louis.

The latter is the brother of Mr Mikyle Louis, a 23-year-old batsman who “kicked down the selectors’ door” with compelling performances in his very first regional four-day cricket season earlier this year.

Should either or both play Test cricket for the West Indies, it will be a glorious first for St Kitts.

Also, Cricket West Indies and its selection panel deserve applause for including 19-year-old fast bowler Mr Isai Thorne, yet another Guyanese, as a “development player”.

We wish the West Indies well as they press forward with the hopes and dreams of their people on their
shoulders.