145;West Indies needed someone in total control146;

It still is one of the most dramatic lines you8217;d ever come across in a resignation letter from the world of cricket.

8220;I am disgusted at the thoughtless and shameless display by these players following such a horrific performance.8221; 8212; Richard Skerritt. March 24, 2004

It still is one of the most dramatic lines you8217;d ever come across in a resignation letter from the world of cricket. The West Indies had just gone down in another humiliating loss against England and four Caribbean stars had already begun to party. Team manager Richard 8216;Ricky8217; Skerritt decided he couldn8217;t take it any more.

8220;After Roger Roger left and the new coach Gus Logie took over, we were going through some turbulent times, which I personally wasn8217;t very comfortable with. It got to a point where I felt that we needed a tougher approach. Logie is a dedicated coach, but his style wasn8217;t really connecting with what was happening, what was needed. So I felt it would be better if I left,8221; says the 49-year-old Skerritt, now a minister of state for sports in the St Kitts cabinet.

8220;The West Indies Board decided to bring in Bennet King current coach from Australia and give him full control, which is what was needed. Somebody needed to have full control.8221;

In fact, the four years that Skerritt worked with the team, from 2000, were some of the most turbulent in West Indian cricket 8212; four captains, three Board presidents, two coaches and a Test ranking just above Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. 8220;There was a lot of conflict as to what was the right formula for the way forward, a lot of uncertainty and mixed feelings about rebuilding the team.

8220;I am pleased about what I see is happening now. I believe that a coach and the rest of his management should be in control of the team. When I was in, there were many different people in control of the team, or trying to be in control of the team. Now the focus is to try and take it back uphill on the field,8221; he adds.

Skerritt is busy these days getting the Warner Park here ready for the big event of 2007. 8220;Let8217;s hope great cricket is played. India are one of my favourite teams. The class and the quality of their players, and the tremendous talent that they keep unearthing is phenomenal,8221; he says.

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8220;Dravid,8221; he says, is 8220;one of my favourite people and one of my favourite players. One of the things that has hurt West Indian cricket is that we have always tried to put the load on one man, Brian Lara. It takes a whole team, but it8217;s good to have a captain like Dravid.8221;