West Indies Cricket in Shambles - (Source : AP)
The West Indies cricket team, once the undisputed kings of world cricket, now find itself in a sad state, bad enough for my older generation to have a tear in their eye and dive in nostalgia when the Clive Lloyd-led side won the first two ODI World Cups and nearly had their third only to be curtailed by Kapil Dev's heroics.
I have grown up hearing tales of the dangerous quartet- Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, and Colin Croft, who instilled fear in top batters with their raw pace and sheer dominance. Not only the bowlers, but the likes of Viv Richards, whose swag is still said to be unmatched, held the record for most runs in a calendar year - 1,710 runs in 1976 till 2012.
The decline started in the 90s, but still, the Men in Maroons had heroes like Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul to boast about. But once the southpaws departed, it felt the doors of great legacy had shut, and the empire fell to a new low after the Windies tumbled for just 27 vs Australia.
Their recent collapse for 27 all out in the third Test against Australia in Kingston is not only their lowest ever Test total, but the second-lowest in the 148-year history of the format. The figures are stark: in an era where even “minnows” regularly pass 100 runs, a team of West Indies heritage producing such a collapse is scarcely believable.
Talent in Isolation, Not in Combination
West Indies cricket continues to produce raw, explosive talent. But talent alone is not translating into consistent international performances. The region’s cricket infrastructures remain fractured, and player development across the islands is plagued by inconsistency and a lack of resources.
At present, they have great players like Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, but it is all individual brilliance, and collective effort is missing as players are now scattered across the globe playing franchise cricket with little to no care about West Indies Cricket.
Further, Pooran's retirement at the age of 29 is a testament to the sad state of affairs in West Indies cricket. The local talents are getting groomed and nurtured on foreign soils, producing results for franchise cricket, while the Windies continue to hog headlines for embarrassing feats on the cricketing ground.
When the senior stars are taking such drastic steps, what impact would it leave on the youngsters, who too would desire to use the West Indies as a launching pad, only to ditch it as they get famous and play global leagues.
Where Have the Legends Gone?
At such desperate times, where have the legends gone? Isn't it the responsibility of the likes of Richards, Lloyd, Ian Bishop, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Brian Lara, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul to assemble and help the board both financially and by imparting their experience?
For years, the pattern has been the same: the West Indies suffer heavy losses against heavyweight teams, following which the legends assemble to criticise the current operations, but never take the initiative to come forward and help and rebuild the legacy that they were a part of.
These figures are widely respected and personally invested in Caribbean cricket, yet only rarely do they hold sustained or influential positions in the region’s player development pipelines.
“How can a team that counts among its alumni the brightest stars of world cricket—players who revolutionised every department of the game—find itself unable to draw on that experience when the need is most desperate?”
The most glaring question surrounds the conspicuous absence of West Indies legends in meaningful coaching or mentorship roles. The same icons—Viv Richards, Brian Lara, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Clive Lloyd
Richards was with the team as interim head coach in 1999, but since then, no effort has been made by any legend to come forward and join the coaching set-up. Whereas Richards and Lara continue to impart coaching skills in the PSL and IPL, respectively.
West Indies Cricket Behind Legends Repelling The Caribbean's Move
West Indies Cricket, too, can be a major reason behind the legends making a conscious effort to stay away from entering coaching, as past incidents have hinted at issues within the board other than financial woes.
Players have repeatedly clashed with the board over salary cuts, late payments, match fees, and changes in contractual terms. The 2014 India tour pull-out was a direct consequence of wage cuts and contract disagreements.
Senior players such as Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, and Sunil Narine have been dropped or overlooked due to disputes, perceived disciplinary issues, or lack of contract agreement creating a rift.
A long-standing perception among players of being poorly treated or not listened to by the board. Notable incidents include Shimron Hetmyer’s “flight-gate, leading to exclusion from World Cup squad.
Players like Darren Sammy have publicly criticised the board for a lack of emotional and practical backing, especially after major triumphs. Thus, these reports of internal conflicts and chaos within the board has led to the big guns watch proceeding from a distance.
The Road Ahead
The regional board regularly announces reviews and development plans, but results have been meagre. It is past time for tough conversations—and action. Without meaningful involvement from its leaders and decisive structural reform, the West Indies risks further indignities. The world does not owe the Caribbean its cricketing glory; it must be reclaimed.
However, the latest reports have suggested that Cricket West Indies has called for emergency meetings, inviting all the legends of the game to provide input on the way forward.
A Bright Light At The End Of The Tunnel
Despite the 27-run collapse, things aren't entirely wrong for the West Indies, as the boys did show promise against Australia. The series started with Australia tumbling for just 180 runs, their lowest total in the Caribbean in the last 30 years.
Notably, the Windies bowlers - Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph were on song and didn't let Australia cross 310 once in the six innings of the Test series. The batters, too, showed promise, but all they require is a few legends to look up to and be reminded of the great legacy and mantras for winning games.
In past eras, a youngster could turn to the dressing room to find a Hall, Sobers, or Holding. Now, the living links to greatness seem missing or marginalised.
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