Windies could become a force to reckon after this success

The West Indies winning the ICC championship not only suggests the rebirth of Caribbean cricket, but also redefines the status of the teams in world cricket, writes, Javagal Srinath.

The West Indies winning the ICC championship not only suggests the rebirth of Caribbean cricket, but also redefines the status of the teams in world cricket. The West Indies' ability to assimilate and to retain their traditional cricketing values had long vanished with some poor and uninspiring performances.

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In the last decade, the Caribbean cricket was more or less depended on individual feats and records of geniuses likes Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose and few others.

The famous quadrate in Roberts, Holding, Marshall and Garner could only inspire to produce the two greats -- Ambrose and Walsh. After this, the West Indies cricket failed to discover fast bowlers of same lethal quality, which made their team the most dreaded one.

This victory is so vital to Caribbean cricket's sense of self-belief. The celebrations one witnessed on the ground after their victory was an ample evidence of how badly the West Indies needed this win.

Such triumph can also lead to a transition to become a better team. Winning a tournament of such magnitude will certainly spring up a few long lasting players with real characters.

England coach Duncan Fletcher must be a worried man to see the team slip up from the position of strength. His plans for all other Windies players were executed perfectly, but it did not work when it came to Bradshaw and Courtney Brown, who were rather unknown names till this eventful Saturday evening. Even 217 was a winning score on a wicket, which seamed the whole day.