Woodster
International Captain
Apologies if a thread of this nature has been set up or this topic has been discussed elsewhere but given recent performances from the once great cricketer nation I wanted to see what thoughts or more importantly, ideas, people had for how the West Indies can slowly begin to recover from where they currently find themselves. I know we've been here several times before, but surely things can't get any/much worse for WI?
I'm sure there are many more members on here, Beamer springs to mind, who would open this debate in a more passionate and knowledgeable fashion but it's a subject that is of great interest to me and a real worry as to whether there are enough people in the relevant positions within the Caribbean structure to make or know how to make the changes necessary.
First of all and what seems blatantly obvious to all, is the sharing of the money from the ICC needs urgently assessing and redistributing much more in favour of all the Test nations rather than just England, Australia and India. I appreciate India generate the most and have a claim to receive the biggest proportion but it still needs to be done in a more equal manner that allows the likes of WI, SA, SL, NZ, Pakistan, Ireland, etc, to make a difference to their structures whether that's through facility upgrades, paying their players better, investing in grassroots cricket right the way up to international (which was once the highest level players aspired to before the franchise competitions came along). West Indies have a unique issue in trying to get all the countries using that money wisely and pulling in the same direction and not simply out for their own benefit. Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad, etc, all need a shared vision in how they can transform the current shambles that is WI back to somewhere near the sides produced in years gone by.
The latest desperate move is bringing together the legends from those eras to try and inspire the current crop. But it's not that they need inspiring they're just nowhere near where they need to be as Test cricketers. This is a long haul back for WI and they need to get the right structures in place now in order to develop the future players, there is no quick fix and certainly plenty more pain to come yet, but what can they do now in order to get back there regardless of how long that might take. Or will the interest on the islands in playing Test cricket simply diminish with each woeful batting performance ?
Let's not get it wrong, it really is the batting that is the main issue with the side at the moment. The bowling attack is more than useful, especially on the pitches recently served up for the arrival of Australia. Can they afford discard Kraigg Brathwaite despite being in a torrid run of form ?
Any thoughts or comments on WI and any ideas on where to start with repairing this wounded cricket nation.
I'm sure there are many more members on here, Beamer springs to mind, who would open this debate in a more passionate and knowledgeable fashion but it's a subject that is of great interest to me and a real worry as to whether there are enough people in the relevant positions within the Caribbean structure to make or know how to make the changes necessary.
First of all and what seems blatantly obvious to all, is the sharing of the money from the ICC needs urgently assessing and redistributing much more in favour of all the Test nations rather than just England, Australia and India. I appreciate India generate the most and have a claim to receive the biggest proportion but it still needs to be done in a more equal manner that allows the likes of WI, SA, SL, NZ, Pakistan, Ireland, etc, to make a difference to their structures whether that's through facility upgrades, paying their players better, investing in grassroots cricket right the way up to international (which was once the highest level players aspired to before the franchise competitions came along). West Indies have a unique issue in trying to get all the countries using that money wisely and pulling in the same direction and not simply out for their own benefit. Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad, etc, all need a shared vision in how they can transform the current shambles that is WI back to somewhere near the sides produced in years gone by.
The latest desperate move is bringing together the legends from those eras to try and inspire the current crop. But it's not that they need inspiring they're just nowhere near where they need to be as Test cricketers. This is a long haul back for WI and they need to get the right structures in place now in order to develop the future players, there is no quick fix and certainly plenty more pain to come yet, but what can they do now in order to get back there regardless of how long that might take. Or will the interest on the islands in playing Test cricket simply diminish with each woeful batting performance ?
Let's not get it wrong, it really is the batting that is the main issue with the side at the moment. The bowling attack is more than useful, especially on the pitches recently served up for the arrival of Australia. Can they afford discard Kraigg Brathwaite despite being in a torrid run of form ?
Any thoughts or comments on WI and any ideas on where to start with repairing this wounded cricket nation.
