West Indies Cricket Fans

FORMER West Indies player and 1979 World Cup winner Larry Gomes was hailed as a "legend," a "cricketing hero," a "model for younger players," "resilient" and a "little firecracker" as his book Larry Gomes, "Mr Dependable" – My Life in Cricket was launched at the Ministry of Education in Port of Spain on November 13. Born Hilary Angelo Gomes in Arima in July 1953, the stylish left-hander was affectionately referred to as Larry Gomes during his playing days as he won the hearts of TT and West Indian fans with his defiance and poise in the Caribbean team's middle order through the 1970s and 1980s. A slender figure during his playing days, Gomes didn't have the brute force and intimidating power of some of his teammates such as Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Clive Lloyd or the "master blaster" Sir Vivian Richards. However, his approach earned him the "Mr Dependable" title and also saw him carving out nine hundreds in a 60-match Test career – six of them against the mighty Australia. Gomes made his First-Class debut for TT in 1972, and his Windies Test debut came four years later against England at 22. He was a member of the Lloyd-led team which defeated hosts England for the 1979 World Cup title. Gomes' career reached a critical juncture in 1983, when he was approached to tour the apartheid-torn South Africa. It was a time of great uncertainty for many West Indian cricketers, and although Gomes said he was offered a "life-altering contract," he decided to decline the offer to tour South Africa. A chapter titled Blood Money, I can't do it: Apartheid South Africa (1983) Career Crossroad details the lucrative offer made to Gomes and his decision to reject it. [caption id="attachment_1120364" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Former TT and West Indies cricketer Larry Gomes, centre, shows young cricketers Jayson Bowyer, from left, Avinash Boodram, Nathan Ragoobarsingh and Gabriel Maharaj cricket skills during his book launch at the Ministry of Education, St Vincent Street, Port of Spain. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption] "I have no regrets really (about declining the contract)," Gomes told the media at the launch. "If I had gone to South Africa, I wouldn't have had to work again. I was the only player who negotiated a contract with (Ali) Bacher. The rest of the guys went out there without any contracts. They just landed in South Africa." A former South African captain, administrator and manager, Bacher was influential in organising rebel tours to South Africa during the 1980s, when the country was banned from international sport because of its apartheid policies. With 22 Tests and 18 One-day Internationals (ODIs) to his name before 1983, Gomes was faced with a major decision, while his wife Ann-Marie prepared to give birth to their second child. "I refused on principle... I don't know what the reaction would have been like if I had gone to (South Africa)." An excerpt from the book reads, "I was kind of sad for the guys, though. The kind of monies they went for, I don't think that will be enough, knowing that your careers would be at stake and that will be the end of them." The players who featured in the 1983 and 1984 rebel tours were banned from playing First-Class and international cricket by the then West Indies Board. The ban was lifted in 1989. In June 1983, Gomes featured in the West Indies team who lost by 43 runs to India in the World Cup final – just missing out on an epic three-peat of World Cup titles. Gomes grabbed figures of two for 49 in that final and took the scalp of legendary Indian captain Kapil Dev. The next year, he rattled off a career-best 143 against England at Edgbaston in a series which the West Indies famously won 5-0. In 1985, Gomes was recognised as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year – a feat which would have been near impossible if he had taken up that South African offer. Four decades after making that crucial decision to turn down "blood money," the 71-year-old Gomes sees similarities between his choice and the situation players face in the current cricket landscape, with the surging popularity of Twenty/20 franchise cricket. "Now, it's a different world we live in. We have the three formats – Test, ODI and T20 – so the money now is in T20 cricket," Gomes told the media. "You can't really be against them, because the lifespan of your career is very short. The amount of money they can make in T20 cricket now...they play less than a year, and they're making more money than we would make in our entire career." Gomes acknowledges the challenges faced by Cricket West Indies (CWI) to field the strongest possible West Indies team on a consistent basis. However, he said the passion and desire for the maroon colours should never be lost in the process. "We need to have pride in our performances, regardless of who's playing. The board (CWI) can't do that. Once you're selected and wearing that maroon cap, you should be playing for the people of the West Indies – not only TT – the entire Caribbean. I'm not seeing that. Gomes said the book, written and published by cricket researcher Nasser Khan, "leaves nothing to the imagination," uncovering an extremely private individual and gives "an in-depth view of Larry Gomes the person, not just the cricketer – brought to life for the public for the first time. "I decided to reveal myself, especially for the youngsters today, who are dealing with similar challenges," he said. It was revealed that copies of the book will be distributed to all secondary schools, national libraries and archives, University of the West Indies and University of the TT, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and sponsor the Quicksilver Group of Companies. "If I can help make it easier for you to get through these impressionable times, then my privacy will pale in comparison. I hope you will enjoy it and I hope it will motivate the youngsters to pursue their dreams." Another book launch is scheduled for 5.30 pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar on November 15, with members of the public getting the opportunity to get their signed copies of the book, priced at $150. People can also contact the following numbers for more information on how they can buy the book directly: 387-2731, 795-9333, 743-5653. All proceeds from the book sales will go to the Gomes family. Information on the book's availability at bookstores will be released at a future date.  The post ‘Mr Dependable’ Larry Gomes launches book My Life in Cricket appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

Source: https://newsday.co.tt/2024/11/14/mr-dep ... n-cricket/