Truth is this- the way one cannot imagine the Indian Premier League without Andre Rusell’s agile fielding and six-hitting prowess and Dwayne Bravo or Chris Gayle’s match-winning performances, one simply cannot imagine the world of cricket commentary in the absence of a certain Ian Bishop.
You simply cannot imagine the modern conception of the game in the absence of the two. Can you? They’ve given us much to cheer about, much to remember.
The presence of Mr. Ian Bishop behind the mic is almost this sacrosanct image that cricket craves for. It’s anything but some random sugary-coated instance of mere lip-service to suggest that the way we craved to see Rahul Dravid play the square cut or Brian Lara the majestic cover drive, both being at their pomp, we look forward to hearing from Mr. Bishop commentate about a game that’s second nature to him.
He must believe it!
That integrity in his voice, the passion with which he espouses every delivery in a game known for its quick-changing vagaries, and his utterly humane voice; one of reason and purity are the tenets with which the former West Indian commands attention, rather let’s say, has earned it.
So today, when you hear something meaningful from the quarters of the West Indies, you can be sure, that a lot of it can be credited to the man who gave us the line which is now an integral feature of the game, and perhaps a diamond in the modern realm of the sport: “Remember the name!”
So recently when Mr. Bishop had a few observations to make about the contribution of the IPL to his West Indian cricketers, you listened to him with great interest and in honest approval. For not only did the former breathtakingly quick fast-bowler was on point in acknowledging the role of the IPL in shaping the current lives of several West Indies players, but shared some insights which underlined why the IPL today is so befitting to imagine with the aura of the West Indies.
A noted cricket publication shared some excerpts of Mr. Ian Bishop’s important observations of the IPL and happened to say:
In the West Indies initially, there was a bad effect on the game since the administrators did not know the value of T20 cricket and the ability of a player as a sole contractor where they had to choose when they wanted to play. We did not handle that well. We lost a few significant players from West Indies cricket for a period of time I wish did not happen.”
He would further add, “But I’m never going to be envious of what a player is now able to earn and secure his financial future. I have seen the Bravos, the Pollards, and the Narines. While they have not played for the West Indies as much, which is something I wish would not have happened. But I am happy to see these young guys having such security for their future and family. It pleases me no end.”
But that being said, as it always happens with a game-changer in life, there’s always some alter-affect that also takes its course and so with the West Indies team that returned recently from England after going down 2-1 in the Wisden series, it’s been noted that whilst there’s genuine cricketing talent in the Caribbean, maybe a lot of it is on display with much aplomb in T20s if not really in Tests.
The West Indies lost the final Manchester Test on Day 5 with Day 4 being entirely rained out. Although in the T20s, the side can counter and attack any cricketing force anywhere in the sporting planet!