Ridley is the man for West Indies

The resignation of West Indies captain Brian Lara has left the W.I.C.B searching for a replacement. His resignation has signaled a changing of the guard in West Indies cricket as the test team is now managed by newly appointed Ricky Skerrit of St. Kitts and coached by former test cricketer Roger Harper of Guyana who have taken over from Clive Lloyd and Sir Viv Richards respectively. The final piece of the puzzle is the captaincy. There has been much speculation by all West Indians since Lara's resignation over who exactly will be the next leader of the test team. A handful of names have been tossed around including the likes of Jimmy Adams, Ridley Jacobs, Sherwin Campbell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Stuart Williams and ridiculously, Carl Hooper. Out of these six names two jump out as the obvious candidates: Jimmy Adams and Ridley Jacobs. Of the others: Williams cannot maintain a test place, Campbell and Chanderpaul do not appear ready to take over the reins of a test team and Hooper would be a totally retrogressive step.

Jimmy Adams has had his moments. He has done a decent job in the past in Lara's absence and no doubt has a cricketing brain. However, his selection would not instill confidence in the dressing room nor in the hearts of all West Indians that is much needed at the moment. Adams, at the moment, has not even cemented his place in the West Indies side. Over the past two years Adams has played ten tests and has scored a meager 335 runs at an average of 20.93. I do agree that selecting a decent tactician and a good team man should be a priority but not at the expense of an in form cricketer.

Many believed that Sir Viv Richards was not the best of tacticians but yet he was so successful as a captain. Richards had an air of confidence about him that he instilled in the hearts of his players. He always managed to squeeze the best out of each and every member of his team. Adams at the moment is not playing positive cricket and is not capable of producing a confidence that would radiate throughout the West Indies. A captain must be looked up to as a person who can change situations and climb out of any hole no matter how deep. Is Adams capable of this? One selector, Colin Croft, does not even believe that Adams should make the West Indies training squad of twenty players for the Zimbabwe tour.

On the other hand, Ridley Jacobs has been an absolute revelation since taking over as the West Indies wicket keeper/batsmen. Jacobs was the sole shining star of the dismal South African tour that so many are still hurting from. He reinforced his claim to the best West Indian `keeper with a solid series against the mighty Australians and in his first full calendar year of test cricket has scored 373 runs from eight matches at an average of 31.80. A brilliant start to a wicket keeper's test career.

He has not yet let the West Indies down, he is a confident, positive player who believes in himself and his teammates. He has even filled the opening spot for the West Indies in One Day Internationals even though he does not have the technique to open an innings. This alone is implicative of his strength of character.

The Leeward Island's turn around in this year's Busta Cup is credited to him as he captained brilliantly in Stuart Williams' absence and led them to the Busta Cup final against Jamaica. He is a team man whose calm, quiet, confidence is much needed during this period of rebuilding. The West Indies need a man of Jocobs' calibre at the helm and they need his leadership qualities. Ridley is the man.