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Failing the Tebbit test with pride
Cricket was a source of anti-colonial and ethnic pride for many young black men like me growing up — so long as we stuck to an 'anyone but England' stance, writes ROGER McKENZIE
SOURCE OF PRIDE: Joel Garner holds aloft the World Cup trophy for the West Indies at Lords, June 1979

IT’S April and the weather is mostly awful — so it must be the start of the cricket season.

When I was growing up, I had just two small ambitions for my future. One was to play football for Aston Villa in the winter, and the other was to come in at first or second wicket down for the West Indies cricket team in the summer.

Sadly I was never good enough at either to succeed, although at times over the years, I still felt I could do a job for Villa given some of the rubbish being served up — thankfully now, under Unai Emery, things appear to have turned the corner.

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