why the West Indies have remained so bad for so long

It continues to perplex and infuriate fans of Test cricket why the West Indies have remained so bad for so long. It was way back in 1995 that the West Indies were officially dethroned as the world’s best Test team by Australia who took  home the Sir Frank Worrell and they seem to have no intention of giving it back.

The sad thing is that we seem totally incapable of taking it so they might as well moth-ball that trophy because at the rate at which things are going, a hundred thousand years from now, archaeologists are going to dig it up from where ever it now sits in the land Down Under. Similarly, all the other trophies that we play for between the major Test playing nations are not going to be discovered here in the West Indies.

The thing that troubles me is why?

* How many world class batsmen have the West Indies produced since Chanderpaul debuted in 1994----that's 20 years ago ?

* How many world class bowlers have the WI produced since Ambrose and Walsh retired ?

* WI cricket remains in the toilet because the region no longer produces world class cricketers.

* The guys are excellent at lickit---T20 cricket----but in the longer versions----tests and onedayers

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they are woefully lacking.

* Produce batsmen who are capable of averaging 40+ with the bat in tests and bowlers who can average less than 30 with the ball and you'll have a competitive WI team.

Rev

The players need vocabulary training to keep their  brain and mind on the Job for long periods. Look at the top teams performing you could see where they are really thinking about what they are doing for long periods. WI fall apart under pressure, our bats men don’t cover the line of the ball and the good players usually do that.The tall loose limb fast bowlers we use to provide are now much shorter men that don’t get the movements the taller men gets. The high performance clinic is just a joke. We have to look at the other countries and see type of people they use to carry out administrations.

Playing against each other in Regionals is considered "poor competition "

Labelled as " dung Heap "

I understand Ireland is invited to provide Competition this Year !

good plan .

now to get Afghanistan and other progressive ICC Associates included !

There is always the issue of pure raw talent and no doubt Ambrose had that. In Walsh's case it was longevity, hard works and a very good injury record.

I can be corrected but were the pitches in the region as poor as they have been since they retired?

The pitches must surely be a main issue!

There are many talented seamers but they seem very injury prone which suggests, perhaps amongst others  reasons, their early conditioning is poor.

I think the talent is there. Gabriel, Cotterrell and a few others are well capable but they have to put in the hard yards.

The Administration has always had its issues to varying degrees, depending on which incarnation of the WICB was in situ and success camouflaged a lot of the failings plus pitches were much better.

So in some ways you have to point your finger at the individuals and what they are willing to put into their cricket.

In terms of industriousness, there is much they can all learn from Shiv as no one forces him to spend hours with his bowling machine.

I also hope Shiv is sensible enough to start getting his Coaching and Management qualifications as he might well be a great asset when he eventually retires.

So in my view a combination of the pitches and players actual prima donna attitudes and lack of hard work and application account for their failing.

Not getting County cricket exposure with that Kolpak ting !

Playing against each other at home ....will NOT make you better  !!

I think if the standard is good then it will improve players.


There are not many, if any, overseas in the Shield, Indian and NZ setup and they produce good players. Ok India has a vast number more people to choose from, agreed but the same fast bowling problems due to their pitches, although they are getting much better.


Some will not accept, as I and many hold, that a lot of the West Indies success, in the past, was due largely to the majority of their players being professionals in the county system. In the 1974 tour to India, I believe all but 1 or two players were not County professional and that carried on for quite some time.


Long before Kolpak, West Indians we not being used as much in the County Circuit. 


Conditions have to improve in my view but your points are duly noted.

I propose Ireland , Afghanistan , Netherlands et al :

be part of the Caribbean regionals. !

To enhance batting and bowling skills ..........

I can live with that but if the pitches are still crap then you will be producing spinners and dibbly doublets!


Not a bad idea though.

Good idea !!!!