Dear Editor,

The following is a tribute to legends of the West Indies cricket team, including Sir Garfield Sobers who recently passed away.

As we age, gentle readers, we slowly but

Surely turn the pages of history and recall

Those interesting times, which made a

Difference in our finite lives: Thus, I remember

Sir Garfield Sobers, who towered above the

Rest, Gus Logie, for his quicksilver fielding,

The acrobatic heroics of Jeffrey Dujon

Behind the stumps, the lanky Lance Gibbs,

Who put a lump in my throat, Wes Hall, with

His fiery pace, and Sir Vivian Richards, the

Master blaster, who embarrassed his rivals.

How can I forget Andy Roberts, a father

Figure, with his wily, late outswingers,

And the remarkable opening pair, namely,

Greenidge and Haynes. Ah, it is a

Pleasant trip down this memory lane.

My friends: the game of cricket is played

By all shapes and sizes:

Cricket is like a painting,

Consisting of colours, shades

And hues, and although I sing

The blues, there is also a wan

Smile on my face, for the mighty

West Indies played this game with

Charm and grace, once upon a time,

When they were in their prime.

After all, cricket is a gentleman’s game,

And sledging and cheating reduce this

Sport to shame. These champion islanders

Were a cut above the rest, in that era,

Oh, the West Indians were the best.

I tell you, even though I am from a

Different shore, cricketers will come

And cricketers will go, but that rhythm and

Beat still move my soul like nothing else does anymore.

Garfield Sobers (Photo: AFP)

Archan Mehta

archanm@hotmail.com