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There has been a sudden surge of optimism in West Indies cricket, a word all but obliterated from its vocabulary.

The cynics can argue that it is illusionary and will last only until the next Test series. But the signs in the past few weeks, on and off the field, have been unmistakable and encouraging.

They have certainly come as an overdue antidote to the despair created by the shocking Test record and the administrative chaos that have prevailed for so long.

The new West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Wes Hall has stimulated new and intense interest among several of the great players of the past who have been largely on the sidelines in recent years.

In the middle, more and more exciting young talent, especially batting, is emerging and the Shell Cricket Academy at St George's University in Grenada is ready for its second intake.

Nothing has been more pleasing than reports of last week's coaching workshop in Trinidad, conducted by the two Australians from Queensland, Toot Byron and Tim Coyle, that brought together 16 West Indies Test players, varying in vintage from Sir Everton Weekes to Ian Bishop and Kenny Benjamin.

When he took over as WICB president last year after the turbulent tenure of Pat Rousseau, Hall immediately stated his goal was to bring what he typically describes as the icons back into the fold.

There is no doubt the past players felt alienated under Rousseau's commercially-biased dispensation. It meant the most valuable resource in West Indies cricket was critically diminished.

As an icon himself as feared fast bowler, selector and team manager, Hall can relate to players, former and current. He speaks their language, he shares their sentiments.

Once the official workshop in Port-of-Spain was over, the 16 assembled and spent almost three hours, going past dinner time, to discuss every aspect of West Indies cricket and what could be done to improve it.

Hall intends it to be an ongoing process.

Sir Viv Richards, the furore over his rejection as team coach two years ago now forgotten, if not forgiven, spoke excitedly afterwards of getting involved again in whatever way possible. It was a generally shared sentiment.

Hall plans to institute a monitoring programme, in which a past player would be assigned one from the present to provide advice and guidance. According to Hall, Sir Garry Sobers is top of his list in this regard and has already agreed.

Another objective is a convention of past West Indies captains.

There is always a danger of too many cooks spoiling the broth but it has become so sour it needs whatever spice it can get.

A dash of youth would add welcome piquancy.

Two months ago, the Under-19s made the semifinals of the youth World Cup in New Zealand only to lose to the eventual champions, Australia.

It was a sharp improvement from the same tournament in 1998, when the West Indies finished tenth, below even Zimbabwe and Bangladesh who beat them in the consolation plate final.

Two from that team and another talented teenager have scored hundreds in the Busta Cup and there have been three others by those just into their 20s.

The landmarks of the 18-year-old Dwaynes Smith of Barbados and Bravo of Trinidad and 19-year-old Donovan Pagon were compiled against competent opposition in tight situations. They showed character, as important an asset in any sport as talent.

Smith's 102 against the Leewards in Anguilla last Monday ensured Barbados saved a match they looked certain to lose.

Bravo, from the same Santa Cruz area as Brian Lara and long since rated almost as highly at the same age, took control of Trinidad and Tobago's innings at 112 for three.

The Jamaican Pagon, second-highest scorer overall in the Youth World Cup, compiled his 110 on debut, starting at 45 for three against a Guyana attack including four Test bowlers.

The 20-year-old century-makers, the other D. Smith, Devon of the Windwards, Ryan Hinds and Kurt Wilkinson of Barbados, were already well established but breaking through the three-figure barrier is often a defining moment.

As chairman of selectors Mike Findlay has again noted, and is obvious to all, the general standard remains a worry as does the continuing absence of bowlers of genuine pace.

Tino Best has burst onto the scene, all hustle and bustle, and created quite a stir.

He is only 20 and still has a lot to learn about bowling. But he is fast and aggressive and it is a long time since we could apply those two adjectives to a young West Indian bowler.

And it's a long time since West Indies cricket could anticipate the future with at least a hint of hope.

© The Barbados Nation