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As a Newcastle United supporter, I feared for those in black and white shirts prior to the past weekend’s clash with Liverpool.
A team in woeful form, rumours about management and the players’ commitment to the cause being questioned; it was all there and didn’t suggest a decent showing against a resurgent team who had been picking up some eye-catching victories with a new man at the helm.
But would you believe it, football, actually, sport in general, has a wonderful habit of putting in a spanner in any pessimistic works and the Geordies’ 2-0 win was well-deserved and a sign that writing off any side in any game can be a futile exercise.
Having said that, I’m now about to write off another sporting side.
On a scale of 1-10, the West Indies’ chances of claiming victory in the upcoming series against Australia are zero – see the aforementioned second paragraph for some scene setting.
This isn’t to stick the knife in and it would be grand if the tourists can make a real fist of the three Tests, but all logic suggests otherwise.
Not only is there the increasing difficulty of winning away from the creature comforts of home but the trend, which has escalated over the past few years, of the West Indies failing to give their Test side the necessary due care and attention.
It’s a desperately sad sight when a national team is in action and somewhere else in the world there are players of international calibre hawking their abilities about to make a few extra dollars.
This is preaching from an idealistic angle and I’m not naïve enough to expect a sudden change in tack any time soon, but it’s still a blight on the international game that a stint for a nameless franchise exceeds representing your country.
As Kerry Packer famously said: “There’s a little bit of the whore in all of us, gentlemen. What is your price?”
Money does indeed talk, especially when the paymasters are slightly better off than the impoverished governing body of your respective homeland, and human nature won’t alter because of a cricket fan’s wish.
But less on those who aren’t here and more on those who are. A quick glance at the names on the squad list reveals a handful of individuals who are more than decent cricketers, yet it may be pushing it to hope for anything tangible.
Kemar Roach isn’t the worst new-ball bowler knocking about, Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels can certainly play, Jermaine Blackwood and Kraigg Brathwaite have shown glimpses of real ability and Jason Holder is a cricketer who shouldn’t be underestimated.
But half a dozen players, unless they are world-beaters, do not for a series victory make.
A thumping in a tour game prior to a Test series getting underway isn’t necessarily the worst thing that can happen, but when your form, in general, is pitiful it represents a continuation of the malaise rather than a setback that can be easily brushed off.
With a bowling attack that looks very light and with decent pitches, which is to be expected, then there could be some real hidings on the cards. Their chief hope lies in making bigger than average totals themselves as a weakness in bowling can be negated to some degree by runs on the board. Don’t be holding your breath, though.
As for the hosts, there were some good signs from victory over the New Zealanders even if any enthusiasm may have been dampened a bit by Mitchell Starc’s troublesome ankle.
The batting looks settled – they could really do with a specialist number six but that’s being picky and won’t happen if a five-man attack is to be fielded – and the bowling, with Josh Hazlewood back to form, is doing as it should.
After losing in England, getting the better of the Kiwis will have settled everything down and allowed any residual hysteria to dissipate and any team will find a rebuilding job that much easier when the clamour for people’s heads is pushed to the background.
Ahead of the Hobart series opener, any West Indies supporters will find themselves in the kind of position their Newcastle counterparts did a couple of days ago.
For the latter it turned out okay in the end. Will it be the same for the former? I really can’t see it.