Liam Sebastien has been under the microscope of his local counterparts from his entry on the regional scene over ten years ago. Unfortunately for Liam, he has not exactly received the warm embrace that other local successful sports figures receive. Liam’s progress in regional cricket carries with it a label of nepotism due to the influence that some cricket observers feel his father, the Windwards team Manager Lockhart Sebastien, has had on his career.
Although his first class career statistics are almost equivalent to that of the regular Windward Islands and West Indies captain, many eyebrows were raised when Liam was appointed captain of the Windward Islands in the absence of Darren Sammy. Critics got a firsthand view of Liam’s leadership capabilities as he led Dominica’s campaign in the 2012 Windward Islands Twenty20 competition. The captain’s on-field gestures and body language when the game seemed to be getting away were far from inspiring. With less than flattering personal statistics, Liam found his way on the Windward Islands team for the Caribbean T-20 competition earlier this year, which was televised live via ESPN. During a match versus the CCC, the Windwards batted first, and lost seven wickets for a paltry score without Liam getting a knock. This left renowned regional commentators and spectators perplexed about his role on the team. However, Liam quickly silenced his critics by bowling a misery spell that included two wickets, helping the Windwards to a comfortable victory that had seemed unlikely. A few days later, in a chase of 140 versus Barbados, the Dominican confirmed his all round status by partnering with Sammy in a recovery from 57 for 5 to remain unbeaten in a four wicket win.
Perhaps it is his fighting spirit that convinced the selectors to overlook several senior players with international experience and appoint Liam acting captain. Liam seemed to have justified the selectors’ choice by leading the Windwards to their first regional Super 50 championship in thirteen years. With the semifinals and finals televised live, Dominicans got another glimpse of the leadership qualities of their local boy, this time under further scrutiny of regional and international observers. Significantly aided by the destructive bowling of Shane Shillingford and the prolific scoring of Devon Smith, 2013 has been one of the best in Windward Island’s cricket history. While the invaluable contributions of Shillingford and Smith could not be ignored, the commentators were full of praise for Liam’s leadership and had no reservations in crediting him for the success of the Windward Islands.
By virtue of their top two finish in the preliminary rounds in the four-day competition, the Windward Islands would host the semifinal clash versus Barbados. Sighting the advantage that the Windsor Park Stadium would present, the players had little hesitation in selecting Dominica as their preferred host venue. The venue presented an almost perfect opportunity for Liam to continue to redeem himself, and win over the hearts of some local supporters by erasing any doubts of his leadership prowess. Fresh from the triumph in the Super 50, and with the form of Shillingford and Smith, the Windward Islands were heavy favorites to defeat Barbados. Having restricted their opponents to 95 for 7 halfway through the first day, it appeared that Liam’s men were on the verge of advancing to the finals for a chance at the double. However, lower order resistance from the Barbadians frustrated the home team, leaving the impatient crowd in a state of restlessness, chastising the captain and once again questioning his leadership ability and even his place on the team. The agitation of the captain was evident, as his animated reactions to misfields and dropped catches signaled the frustration that does little to motivate his players at a time when they need it most. The team never recovered from what appeared to be a minor setback from a comfortable position, so much so that when their turn came to bat, wickets tumbled as regularly as a heartbeat. The Windwards eventually crumbled to defeat in less than five sessions of cricket.
It is not totally fair to blame the captain for such an embarrassing defeat, but the anticlimactic nature of his home coming game in an otherwise very successful season only adds to the mystery behind his progress as a local and regional cricketer. Maybe the all rounder is trying too hard to prove the local skeptics wrong, or it is a case that he is much more comfortable playing at venues where the scrutiny is less intimidating and the fans are more tolerant and understanding.
I believe that you can never please ppl you do good they never congratulate and as soon as u mess up they focus on it. Liam is a dedicated player and I know personally that he is hurt from the backlash that you people give him….support your own dominica. You who complaining cant even do any better. Leave him alone and stop busting his balls or join the team!
While I wish to agree with the comments that the performance of D Smith S Shillingford and even by a great extend T Theoppile was responsible for WI position this year, one must always take not that everything rise and fall around leadership. Leadership carries with it motivation as well as demotivation and even if one or two individuals my be in the spotlight as the heroes, one can or should never ignore what goes on behind the seen with the leader and these performers. So to all who fail to understand this article please read it again, it is a positive article Liam should carry with him in his quest to higher heights, and let me admonish him to use his critics as a bridge to cross over troubled waters. heights.
Usually, I would read an article, assimilate its information, analyse its content then move on to the next… most times avoiding reading most of the comments. Its a form of shielding that I’ve adopted.
This time I ventured to read some of the comments. Most of the comments seem to be filled with venom, either for or against… even by those who tried to add an iota of analysis. Others showed an unfortunate lack of comprehension.
I’m sure… I KNOW we can all do better. That said, I think the author was balanced in his analysis – maybe was short on supporting statistics but there was a clear attempt at looking at the successes and failures of the Captain, Liam Sebastian.
I CONGRATULATE THE SUCCESS OF LIAM’s WINDWARD ISLANDS TEAM, for indeed he is the captain. I congratulate his successes in 2013. I congratulate the phenomenal achievement of Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith and others, including management.
On the failures? Management, take stalk of the sentiments of the fans, whether voiced amicably or whether shouted in disgust; take stalk of your professional, teachnical and leadership deficiencies, whereever they may be – LISTEN AND IMPROVE.
MORE SUCCESS TO WINDWARDS AND ESPECIALLY To OUR DOMINICAN SPORTSMEN & WOMEN !!
Why is there no analysis on the preparation of the cricket pitch?
Was there a backlash?
I remember prior to the Australia vs W.I match, the wicket Curator stating that he had prepared the wicket for Shane Shillingford. Is it that the wicket was prepared for Shane with the expectation that Windwards would bat first and then Barbados would have suffered the fate of Windwards?
How can a wicket turn so much from the first over?
The preparation of the wicket should be invetigated. Liam made a comment that the wicket was unsuitable for first class cricket.
How can a wicket that has been prepared for three test matches and numerous ODI’s be, all of a sudden, unsuitable for a 4 Day W.I. championship?
I think the gambling ways of the Curator backfired, he gambled for Shane not realizing that Barbados also had two top spinners.
There should be an investigation and heads should roll.
How can a wicket be so poorly prepared?
Lovely comment. Precisely what happened. Nurse ended up with 14 wickets if I am not mistaken? Shame on the ”curator’.
Same curator will give local cricketers green tops to play on and does that for a first class match. Made nurse look like the spinner of the year. Ball spinning and jumping from the go. A new ball. Smh.
But heads will not roll. It’s an old boys club.
I agree that there should be an investigation,I for one will be pushing for it.However it will be interesting to find under whose instructions did the curator prepare such a pitch. WAS this an attempt of match fixing?
WICBC beware of your selection process for team mgmt!
Tony Cozier has also written about the pitch at Windsor Park. He believes the pitch was responsible for the game ending prematurely. His comments were published in the Barbados Nation.
The analysis by Smith is spot on. Had Liam been in any other territory he would have been confined to cricket oblivion ages ago. Firstly, a front line batsman averaging 22 is POOR in any format when all rounders average 40 in the modern game. He is also a medicre fielder and at best an average captain. He has not exhibited ANY outstanding leadership skills this season. The WI won the super fifty and advanced to the 4 day semis on the backs of outstanding performances from Devon and Shane. As for the father, he has been a DESTROYER of other young Dominican talent. I HOPE they will now push for Tyrone to gain a stint at the HPC since Liam’s best days are behind him.
Who ever you are clearly you have no cricket sense. Show me which all rounders in the caribbean average 40 in fact batsmen. Nobody is saying liam average is great but it is better than some of those in the Windwards team you may even praise. Do you know Liam was in the top 6 in the entire region in the super 50 with an average of 39 but you clearly are a Liam hater and as the ESPN commentators did they see his leadership skills. Take your woodcock in a bakery or somewhere. You clearly are a hater which is full of bias
To be honest with you, I was impressed with Theophille. He is just approaching 24 years, while Liam is approaching 29. I really think that something should be done to help him further his batting ability, since we do not have batsmen in Dominica playing at the Windwards level.
Liam average is poor and his best days as an all rounder batting at #6 majority of d time are behind him but you want them to push for Tyrone who as an opening batsman and sole role of a batsmen is 19? well I can only say one thing that you don’t like Liam and nothing is wrong in that I guess in your eyes. Tyrone will go to the hpc he was interviewed he may get through. Dominicans are a special breed
Spot on. And I know it is off the topic, but Dominicans let us not support Shane only for West Indies duty. He was bowling on Thursday and there were less than 200 people to support him. But you all showed up in large nmbers or the test math. He needs ur support in regional n local cricket too.
A DESTROYER indeed!!! I have seen first hand many of talents fall by the way side because of this man.
Something is wrong with our comprehension skills if some have concluded from the columnist’s article on first Shane and then Liam, that he ‘hates’ them.
No wonder then that Fazeer Mohammed’s article was also misinterpreted.
It is truly worrisome that our comprehension skills are so lacking
Liam seem to have a small clique who are making him believe that he is quite good. On the contrary, his batting over the years has failed him terribly. To be honest his batting has been poor.They are not man or woman enough to put that srtraight into his face. POOR US!
is Liam a Dominican? Maybe not. The so called batsmen in his team I suspect you people praise i guess they are much better than him and their averages lower than his. Liam is not great and nobody said that but all of this hatred directed towards him alone makes no sense. nothing he does he gets credit for so then whats the point you talking bout straight face. who in the team you could say with a straight face you are a good batsman besides devon? but yet still you kill Liam. Anyways Windwards can no longer be called minnows of Windies cricket
Colihaut Boys!!!
I do agree that Liam is paying dearly for the dins of the father who many see as having ‘stalled’ the careers of many a budding cricketer. Some of these cricketers in the public’s eye have been more talented that the young Sebastian.
I remember a family member being brought to tears once defending the young man against the verbal onslaught of an irate crowd.
Lesson in all of this, it may be your own, but you shouldn’t push ur own at the expense of others just as good if not better.
First, I would like to congratulate Liam, Sebo, Ian and the rest of the WI team on winning the Super 50. Liam, I saw you bat as a pre-teen while Celtics Club practice and occasionally I bowled to you; back then I knew there were great things in store for you. One area I hope that you improve is your temperament when guys drop catches or miss-field; the former are all part of the game and as the leader you need to rally the guys, because playing in Dominica can be tough for locals, particularly in leadership position. In fact this defeat from B/dos will be used against you in the future by people who for whatever reason do not understand the pressure you and the guys faced in the semi-finals. So, don’t be bothered by that because I am confident you all learn a lot from this experience. Unfortunately, I was unable to see the match, but I would have like to be there to give you the support you deserve. Therefore, I would like you and the other players to know that you all have my full support, and WI cricket is now formidable because of the hard work put in by managers and players over the years. As we say in Cricket “Hard Luck” we need to focus on the lessons learnt moments for that match as I am sure given Sebo being a strategist will go through it to help you guys better able to deal with it next time. I firmly believe that there will be more opportunities starting next year, because we are no longer under-dogs in Caribbean cricket. Again congratulations and I am proud of you guys.
>>>>>>>>
respect LIAM mister SMITH respect Liam plz….
Yow you wait until WINDWARDS LOSE for you to publish that stupidness. Where is your foresight ? It is always some reactionary “after the fact story”. No Historical account on the successes of CAPTAIN LIAM prior to our team’s record breaking failure at Windsor Park.
This article would have been taken in better taste if such an approach had been adopted. But am not surprised you understood and supported the Tnt’s attack on KING SHANE and you dubbed it as satire. Unfortunately you were tricked by the intellectual brilliance of Mr.Mohammed. Such gullibility are not built into Dominica’s DNO hence you are exception to the rule.
Long live LIAM Sebastian: a hero is never respected in his homeland. Liam Sebastien did what no other Dominican Cricket Captain has accomplished; he won a regional championship and I would have thought that genuine patriot writers would have published a tribute to LIAM in this regard. I sometimes wonder what has the SEBASTIAN FAMILIY done wrong?
Congratulations to SEBO and LIAM and the WINDWARD ISLANDS CRICKET TEAM.
KANA KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN. HATERS!!!!!!
@Masters Also Pure Garbage. Spot On Commentary. Hope one comes on Tyrone Theophille. He has a lot of potential.
Liam is good as his stats says> but he is suppose to be a batsman
Mr whoever you are. you are in no position to determine what Liam is. He is an All-rounder as everybody knows he is. SMH.
Brilliant analysis, Mr. Smith!!!!
DNO The 15 men to represent the WI in the Champions Trophy has been selected.
New captain DWAYNE BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!
its always baffling why we Dominicans always hate our own. How many congratulatory messages has Liam and the team received for winning? NOT EVEN FROM SKERRITT, But you will hear the critics for them losing. How many of us Dominicans heckle the other guys in the team besides Liam. Look at his performance this season compare them to others in the team. Lord the Vice Captain average for the season is maybe even under 10. What is the problem in us cherishing our own and helping the young man and praising him as well INSTEAD OF ALWAYS BRINGING HIM DOWN. What is the reason for that?
Liam I want to congratulate you and your team on an great season and your personal performance since the t20 has been brilliant but still room for improvement. Keep working
Wholly agree with you . This same columnist very 1st article was also unsympathetic to Shane, in the midst of his recent ground breaking achievements. It appears that some ………..people just can’t hide their jealousy and will jump at the slightest moment to pound their local sportsmen instead of being supportive.
Speaking the truth has nothing to do with hatred. The columnist is absolutely correct, and you are dead wrong.
if it was beff they would have already commented! sheeeeeesh!
Mr. Smith, yu are right. “Liam’s progress in regional cricket carries with it a label of nepotism due to the influence that some cricket observers feel his father…”
Liam is a talented cricketer and his role as captain will give him more experience in this area.. We wish him well.
GOOD COMMENTARY. I do not believe that Liam is a bad captain. In fact many regional commentators had high praises for him in the match against CCC. He did an excellent job.However if I am not mistaken, he is supposed to be a batting all rounder,and the batting is nothing to proud of at all!
I really don’t know what to say about the defeat at Windsorpark. Some people believe that the wicket was doctored to suit Shane, but I share another view. West Indian batsmen over the past two decades or more (with the exception of the great genius Brian Charles Lara) have had this weakness against spin bowling (quality spin bowling, mediocre spin bowling) and it showed itself in both innings. Lara would step out of his crease and play Shane Warne and Murali like school boy spinners.Our present batsmen are very exposed and suspect against good spinners.While the wicket had too much for the spinners,the weakness against spin continues to fester in the Caribbean.
Look out for Ajmal when Pakistan comes to play us soon.He may well prove that point.
Liam had the 3rd Highest batting average in the team after devon Smith and Dalton Polius in the 4 day and in the one day he was 3rd in the batting averages after devon and fletcher. His batting has indeed improved a lot if you have been watching the games
@give the boy a break. I say again that Liam’s batting is the biggest problem that he faces presently. Liam himself would acknowledge that. Even if what you said is true, but his batting has been at bay for too long.
In the super 50, he played 8 matches scored a total of 196 runs with a highest score of 52. His average is 39.20. I am saying that he needs to score more heavily, since he has been around long enough. You can bring in all kinds of excuses,but you will not convince me to the contrary.
Guess Liam himself will see me as being more realistic than you, who are obviously trying to fool him.
Liam brother you need to show us that you can bat. Presently you are too inconsistent.
nobody ever said Liam batting is great, the problem we have is there is something personal against liam besides cricket. Go through the Windward Islands team and Look at the stats and not many of them have better averages than Liam. We praise sammy but Liam and Sammy stats are almost on par. Liam is getting more wickets than even a leading spinner in the team. Batting at # 5 and # 6 clearly Liam is playing the all rounder role and I am sure his coach would admit and as an all rounder we cannot keep killing him if so lets be hard on everybody then and not one. ITS PERSONAL
@give the boy a break You seem to be one of Liam’s greatest enemy. You should love the young man, and tell him where he needs to improve, where he is going wrong,instead of convincing yourself that criticism (most of all constructive criticism) is tantamount to hatred. OMG! You must start developing a culture of love for your fellow countrymen/women.
Leave Hermia child alone, is he alone dat have to carry de team all de time den….
Well done Mr. Smith.. Don’t worry about the lack of comments— is beff they like.
Amen! Amen! Amen! nough said. What have you done for us lately syndrome. There is always next year. Congratulations to the team for wining the 50 overs competetion. Even in light of that atrocios desplay of poor all round cricket,we cannot win all, thats life.
Liam Sebastien has worked hard to maximize his God-given cricketing talent. Like Darren Sammy, Liam may not be the most talented Wndward Islands cricketer. However his passion, leadership abilities, hard work and cricketing savvy have enabled him to merit his appointment as captain of the Windward Island team. As a die-hard fan of Windward Islands and West Indies cricket, I wish Liam and other my fellow Dominican cricketers a long, enjoyable and successful cricketing career.
What sort of newspaper is DNO there is a major cricket semi final in your backyard and not one word of reporting on the game. Shame on you. There should have been full reports daily on each day’s play by your sports reporters as is done in Barbados etc. Exposing your readers to reports on the game helps everyone to understand the game, appreciate the game and analyise players and tactics of both teams. Such reports make for good, wholesome reading even if you are on the losing side.
Admin: You make a good point except that we did make what we thought were secure arrangements to cover the match but, for reasons which we had no control over, it didn’t work out. We will learn from that experience going forward. We did stream the match live though.