How did Barbados and Antigua produce so many great cricketers?

[bagapath]

It really is amazing. They have about 1/10th of Sydney's population and have an amazing side that could beat a rest of the world XI. West Indies does produce a lot of natural athletes though, plus their culture was very positive to cricket.

Australia has 3% of India's population. and I dont even want to imagine comparing NZ's population with India's

 

[shivfan]

I think the success of Barbados and Antigua have a lot to do with the prominence of cricket on the sporting agendas of those countries. It's as follows....

1) cricket
2) daylight
3) more daylight
4) other sports

From my visits to Barbados, and chats with friends who are Antiguans, there is no other sport that has the appeal of cricket. this is in contrast with countries like Jamaica and trinidad, where cricket has to compete with football and athletics, and cricket sometimes loses out to those sports.

 

[Himannv]

Just for kicks a Rest of the WI Xi:

Stollmeyer
Rae
Headley
Richards*
Lara
Kanhai
Dujon+
Holding
Ambrose
Roberts
Walsh

Thats not bad at all tbh. That middle order is top notch as is that pace attack.

 

[bagapath]

Thats not bad at all tbh. That middle order is top notch as is that pace attack.

i would bring in lloyd for kanhai for superior captaincy and gibbs in place of walsh for better balance in bowling. but it is a bloody good team either way.

 

[MrIncredible]

I think the success of Barbados and Antigua have a lot to do with the prominence of cricket on the sporting agendas of those countries. It's as follows....

1) cricket
2) daylight
3) more daylight
4) other sports

From my visits to Barbados, and chats with friends who are Antiguans, there is no other sport that has the appeal of cricket. this is in contrast with countries like Jamaica and trinidad, where cricket has to compete with football and athletics, and cricket sometimes loses out to those sports.

All true. These days though, the competition from other sports has been on the increase. Particularly football and track (even American football to a lesser extent).