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West Indies Cricket – regional institutions in decline

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June 26, 2023 will be remembered by fans of cricket and in particular those who support the West Indies team as another dark day. It was a day orange was the new maroon. It was a day an Associate Member team humiliated a West Indies team by scoring 374 runs to tie a 50 over game in an ongoing competition and finally won it in a super over. A super over which saw Jason Holder struck for 30 runs.

On July 13, 2009 a blog titled The Darkest Day In West Indies Cricket was posted by Barbados Underground. Not many West Indian cricket fans would have envisaged the precipitous decline in our cricket thirteen years later. Baby boomers in the BU household who were fortunate to witness triumphant West Indies cricket teams of the 70s and 80s have had to stop being fans of regional cricket, including the blogmaster.

To be honest the blogmaster feels unqualified to unpack the may problems obviously affecting West Indies cricket. What cannot be refuted is that the passion with which former players from the golden era played the game has long faded. The game has been commodified and our top players from all reports are paid very well, BUT, the passion that is a prerequisite to give of ones best is gone.

To excel as a prominent figure in any field necessitates adopting the most effective management methodologies along with their comprehensive implications. Regrettably, the composition of the Board of Management (WIBC), responsible for the supervision of West Indies cricket, does not adhere to the principles that parallel the operational prowess of prosperous institutions. Astonishingly, the selection process for Directors within the WIBC revolves solely around membership in exclusive circles, driven by capricious desires and aspirations of individuals yearning for recognition and wealth.

BU Blog 2009

Like sugar the blogmaster believes cricket is dead. Many of our regional institutions have started to struggle to deliver on mandates. Whether it is CARICOM, UWI, LIAT, CXC, CDB to name those top of mind. Some may insist that mismanagement of regional economies by governments have created a difficult environment in which to excel. The demise of West Indies cricket should therefore not be critiqued in a vacuum. How have our leaders in the political and NGO spheres brought us here? Has the lack of advocacy by the citizenry helped to hasten the rot in regional institutions?

A reminder what is the Mission of Cricket West Indies (CWI) – To lead, inspire and unite cricket in the West Indies from thriving grassroots to exciting West Indies teams, ensuring sustainable success.

The global media has been reveling at the indifferent performers being trotted out by the once mighty West Indies team with mocking headlines. At least one Prime Minister in the region – Rowley from Trinidad – has been quoted as saying, “Today I saw THE WORST CRICKET MATCH ever played by a West Indies team”. Should Rowley have recalled instead the question posed by late Prime Minister Sir Lloyd Sandiford when he asked – how did we get here? Everything is out of control”, “it did not happen yesterday”.

Orange is the new maroon.

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315 responses to “West Indies Cricket – regional institutions in decline”

  1. A Mantra Avatar
    A Mantra

    West “Indies” cricket team could try this mantra on for size to switch, change or up their game

    “I don’t strife for perfection,
    I strive for joy”

  2. Yolande Grsnt - African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2923. All Rights Reserved Avatar
    Yolande Grsnt – African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2923. All Rights Reserved

    “We know a number of things which together cannot escape our conclusion.”

    One thing is now guaranteed, everything has gone sideways everywhere..

    Dire warnings are bring issued and will be enforced…just step over whom you must and kerp it moving, dont look back. No one owes them anything…they had more than enuff time to prepare.

    Local frauds finally ran out of cards to play.

  3. Racist Faces in Racist Places Avatar
    Racist Faces in Racist Places

    The West Indies beat USA! USA! USA! at cricket

    2023 – 1776 = 247 years ago

    Why do “We” celebrate July 4?
    Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies’ separation from Great Britain. The Constitution provides the legal and governmental framework for the United States.
    The 13 original states were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The 13 original states were the first 13 British colonies. British colonists traveled across the Atlantic Ocean from Europe.

  4. John Avatar
    John

    David
    on July 4, 2023 at 3:33 AM said:
    Rate This

    The CCJ was established in 2001. Understand the point Sargeant is making. Enough time has gone that all serious thinking CARICOM countries interested in regional integration should have signed on yo the CCJ.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Actually, it wasn’t 2001 but 2005.

    I should know because I was there at the last case the Privy Council heard in early April 2005.

  5. Cricket Pathologist Avatar
    Cricket Pathologist

    One of us has to be real …

    Watching the discussion of WI Cricket played out elsewhere. The emphasis is on financing, TV rights and the amount of money cricketers are paid.

    I wanted to tell them “Cut it out. The game is played on the field. You can adjust everything, but if you cannot field 11 good players then a loss is what you will get.” I didn’t have the heart to hurt their feelings.

    I doubt that earlier WI cricketers were earning the same pay as their English opponents but yet they were winners.

    If the combined WI team is so poor, do you see India, Australia, England, etc coming to the Caribbean just to play individual loser nations? The could stay at home and play county cricket at a higher level.

    The only good thing that would come of just having individual national teams is that the good name WI Cricket teAm would no longer be used or tarnished.

    Let’s close the casket on these imposters. Sirs, what we are discussing is how the patient died. We had our moment in the sun. It is gone, it is over. Get over it.

  6. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    An agreement establishing the CCJ was signed by ten (10) CARICOM member states, on February 14, 2001. The Court was officially inaugurated on April 16, 2005.

  7. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    If you don’t mind, could you please explain how USA’s independence is relevant to a thread on which there is a discussion about WI cricket?

  8. Everyday Is A Holiday Avatar
    Everyday Is A Holiday

    “f you don’t mind, could you please explain how USA’s independence is relevant to a thread on which there is a discussion about WI cricket?”

    Ding!
    Today is …. just a holiday
    everyday is just another day

  9. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    The emotions of disbanding a WI team, might be overshadowed if, we appreciate this is another Colonial structure. One of the British Empire.
    In what other sport do we join forces?
    And goodness knows “we” would benefit in ⚽, 🎾 etc.
    This disbandment is merely an extension of our independence, which includes removal of any foreign monarchy as head of state.
    Like in other int’l tournaments, we compete individually.
    Meanwhile the players, seek compensation playing professionally in the myriad of global leagues.
    Island nations like Bermuda, the Bahamas and Caymans already play individually. And it isn’t like we are breaking up the reigning world champions. To besides, regional concepts are largely political dreams.
    Disband the team. It is a Colonial vestige, which like Nelson needs removal.

  10. Yolande Grant - African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved Avatar
    Yolande Grant – African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved

    In the embarrassing pappyshow that is the negro….they are pretend republic and calling themselves King’s Counsel.

  11. Sporting boycott Avatar
    Sporting boycott

    Perhaps cricket and other sports should be boycotted over the issue of reparations in the same way South Africa was boycotted in sports over Apartheid

  12. Let the People Play Avatar
    Let the People Play

    Or Russian and Belarusian athletes were boycotted? Wimbledon has lifted after one year, yet the reason given still exists.
    All bullshit.

  13. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Europe is burning. And not only with the fires of molotov cocktails.

    France, for instance is burning, across the board. Politically, economically, socially, technologically, legally and environmentally.

    Militarily, diplomatically and status of empire.

    Of course its empire is burning toooo as the 14 colonies are up in arms to kick out the blood sucking French.

    But the hottest fires are coming soon as the heat of the surface of the sun makes ready to kiss their face. The mushroom-headed big deckie.

  14. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    You’ve provided the forum with a rational, alternative perspective of the discussion. Excellent comment.

  15. Children Play Avatar
    Children Play

    The ATP and WTA responded in June 2022 by announcing that ranking points will not be awarded for Wimbledon 2022, causing some players, such as former world number one Naomi Osaka, to admit that the decision had caused them to reconsider participating.

  16. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    Whooa there cowboy 😎!

    That’s quite an assertion there … filled with unequivocal truths which establish depth and then spotted with the ‘colonial’ brickbat to engender a true sense of ‘but yah right tho’!

    Although I believe u are writing ‘tongue in cheek’!

    Anyhow, well done 🙏🏿. But , hold up!

    1. The colonial massa left many other things which have since still served us well.

    There is no need to jettison eva thing!

    2. Whether by fashion or from necessity the WI team became one of the principal cricket playing nations of which they were only six back then.

    Yes of course cricket is still the only world sport which has such a combined unit and as the ICC now go through their global expansion the COUNTER argument to your assertion is: WHY disband and definitively condemn the cricket landscape to be the Sharks (Aus, Eng, Ind etc) and Minnows (all the other non test playing nations)… of which Bdos, Jam, TnT, St.Lucia become part of the latter.

    WHY … would anyone in the region seek that????

    To have another Trini Brian Lara or Mikey Holding Jamaican light up the world in a team destined to lose many more than they win!

    Of course we can compete nationally for Olympics and such competitions which does not recognize a WI nation but under ICC auspices we should fight with all our might to remain a WI nation.

    The lessons of Adam’s and Williams, Manley et al and their botched Caricom agenda should be a BRIGHT beacon on the VALUE of UNITY.

    Let’s look at what is good when we work together and strive to regain those sensibilities… divided we will be able to thump our chests for the proverbial NY minute but then WHAT.

    You wrote with a Holding style assertiveness and a Richard’s retort swagger is needed … hopefully that can be harnessed to push back when others reassert your vision.

    Lata.

  17. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @NO

    In keeping with the times are you suggesting a form of “WEXIT”? On an intellectual level it perhaps makes sense but what about the emotional and sociological aspect not only for Bajans but other Caribbean nationals? These are trying times for fans of the game but throwing out the baby with the bathwater could mean the death of the game in the entire region.

  18. Keep it simple, truthful and real Avatar
    Keep it simple, truthful and real

    “And goodness knows “we” would benefit in ⚽, 🎾 etc.”

    Well written NO, but you veered off the known path and ran into a dead end.

    Now the truth ….

    Jamaica is the only soccer team that has maintained a level of success /respectability. A combined Wl soccer team would be made up of only Jamaicans.

    Soccer scores for the other islands are just like Mia’s election victories nuff – 0.

    With the exception of Jamaican soccer, many island that were on par with the US are not even in the same weight class.

    I seem to recall when Trinidad was a powerhouse in women’s hockey. This is no longer the case.

    I am watching track and field in Jamaica. Because this is mainly an individual effort, we will still be blessed with the outlier here and there, but The dominance of Jamaica is on the decline.

    Everything is on the decline.

    Father in heaven, why must I carry this cup? Truth, like reality, is a bitch. Reality sucks.

  19. Cruel but kind Avatar
    Cruel but kind

    My goal is to push them out of that alternate universe they retreat to and push them into the harsh and cruel world.

    I remember my uncle teaching me to swim. He just
    tossed me into the deep water and I had to make it back to the shallow part.

    Sometimes “you have to be cruel to be kind”.

  20. David Avatar
    David

    @Sargeant

    A very insightful intervention.

  21. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    Yet “we” would benefit, similarly to how all members of the WI community felt joy even if they were 6 Bajans, maybe 7 on the WI cricket squad. Fact is, even if 11 Jamaicans deserved to play, there would be no more than 8, plus a bunch of bench warmers, on the WI football squad.
    Which returns us to the point of playing cricket by nation. There will be highs and lows. But passion of playing for your nation is one reason why the WI cricket squad flounders. The WI isn’t a nation?

  22. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    Yes, to some extent my intent was to fire up the waning discussion.
    Yet, the challenges of WI cricket are not new? On paper, the WI team should be better, but it isn’t. In fact, for the past 15 yrs at least, they have underperformed, as a unit.
    Throwing the baby out with the bathwater applies only to the older set who lived WI cricket in its heyday. To think of the WI team as a colonial concoction wasn’t even a consideration.
    Everybody loves a winner?
    How the rassoul does a Bajan end up being skipper of the English U19 squad?
    Yeah I know my suggestion disrupts history. But, we are years away from disrupting a championship squad.
    We maybe surprised how the various island teams perform on the world stage.

  23. John Avatar
    John

    Sugar is what made WI into a Nation.

    Pan Boilers and other technical staff in the factories, management and labour freely moved between the constituent states to ply their trade … and play cricket.

    These were young vigourous menwho worked hard and played hard.

    WI was never as the goodly professor claimed “A Nation Imagined”

    It was at one time a nation drawn together by sugar … and cricket.

    Cricket in the West Indies could never have evolved as it did without the presence of sugar.

  24. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    @Northern… and that u cheekily did well!

    But as you noted in your last piece, this is really not new stuff being thrown out here again.

    You recall the talk of Barbados beating touring teams way back when … but more importantly even in Australia and India/Pakistan there have been state or territorial jealousies re selection.

    So no ‘surprises’ of what a national cricket team would do: there would be some highs (think of the TnT T20 team which lit up the sky a few years back) and LOTS of lows … where are Bravo and the other stars who propelled that team ???where is the pipeline of new stars??? Can Barbados beat Scotland far less compete against a Rest of World team as they did eons ago!

    Of course not… very low lows would be death to our national sport and sporting life region wide!

    BTW, … Do you have FACTS to support your position that modern players feel less passion for West Indies cricket than their own island team?

    Currently the modern trend is Bajans playing in a branded-name Windwards team or Gyuyanese in the Tridents brand ‘Bajan” team at CPL.

    And then further contrast your position with Bravo or Russell playing for their original Indian team which now has a franchised branded team in CPL, now in US League, in Canada and partnership (part franchise) in SA, I believe.

    In sum, I employ you to do your super best for MY business…that’s clearly one trend … but why can’t we maintain a WI unit at the international level.

    And that football reference is an interesting one.

    Many here may also vividly recall the days of that TnT team helmed by Latapy and the Man U brother Dwight Yorke.

    THAT team should have preceded Jamaica to World Cup … that to say: a WI soccer team – for all the insular national passion -comprising Trinis and Jamaicans (with Cracker Goddard on bench for some key late minutes) WOULD have made some noise eva since!

    But that’s just a fanciful neverland what-if … what’s real is our WI cricket team and it should remain so!

  25. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    I have no intent to get into a verbal tiff with you but I must say: your remarks GRATE sensibilities.

    The blogger @Pacha called you a racist for your earlier remarks and yet you persist.

    I do not see the slave enforced sugar plantation regime as a glue which made us a ‘cricketing’ nation… that you regale us with the hateful myth about “vigorous” men working and playing hard is DISGUSTING…

    The colonial master taught us – and too their conquests in India (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh) -their genteel game of cricket to whittle away their time amongst us and surely to soothe us savages.

    Grow some balls and recognize your remarks for their clear racists insinuations.

    You know well the comprehensive segregation of cricket in the region back then.

    Stop the folly.

  26. John Avatar
    John

    https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/wi-vs-ind-jason-holder-alzarri-joseph-to-return-early-from-world-cup-qualifier-1385806

    Unless India sends a substandard team to the West Indies or some miracle happens, the workload of these two will make no difference!!

    India is #2 in the world test rankings, Australia is #1.

    We are below the Netherlands and Scotland in 50 over cricket.

    Waste of time and money.

  27. John Avatar
    John

    deepeedee that is the best you can do?

    If you don’t know what you are talking about you should just shut up and not run around proving it to everybody.

    Check George Headley. He began working for a company whose owners were cricket enthusiasts, Keeling-Lindo. Interestingly I have an ancestor who was a Keeling. Pretty sure both Keeling and Lindo were early Sephardic Jews.

    I also share an ancestor with a member of the WI cricket team before it attained Test status. He was considered to be the best wicketkeeper in the West Indies at the time.

    Funnily enough he comes out of the Sephardic/slave side of my ancestry!! Same Keeling!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Dewhurst_(cricketer)

    The point is for any person to make it in cricket in the early days of West Indies Cricket they needed employment and at that time, jobs were in agriculture, sugar, cacao, fruit etc. and to be found in various places in the Caribbean, from Guyana to Jamaica.

    This is a simple truth.

    To illustrate, Usman Khawaja the Australian opener is a pilot who also has a contract to play cricket. When Cricket is done he will probably revert to his profession and support his family by this means.

    Some Background on George Headley.

    “Headley was born in Colón, Panama, on 30 May 1909, the son of DeCourcy Headley and Irene Roberts. Neither of Headley’s parents was from Panama; his father was from Barbados and his mother from Jamaica, but they had moved to Panama while DeCourcey worked on the construction of the Panama Canal. By the time Headley was five years old the Canal was complete, and the family moved to Cuba in search of further employment. In 1919, concerned by the amount of Spanish being spoken by her son, Headley’s mother took him to Jamaica so he could be educated in an English-speaking school.[1]

    Headley moved in with his mother’s sister-in-law Mrs Clarence Smith, in Rae Town, Kingston, and remained with her until her death in 1933.[1][2] His mother returned to Cuba, but regularly exchanged letters with her son.[1] He attended Calabar Elementary School, where he played for the school cricket team as a wicket-keeper, although a meagre sporting budget meant he had to do so without gloves. Later, he continued his education at Kingston High School.[3] Taking part in all-day cricket matches at the local Crabhole Park, Headley began to attract local attention,[4] and aged 16, he joined Raetown Cricket Club. In 1925 he scored his first century, batting at number three in the batting order in a match for Raetown against Clovelly.[5]

    On leaving school, Headley was appointed as a temporary clerk in a magistrate’s court; this enabled him to play competitive cricket for the St Andrew’s Police side in 1926, in a cup competition.[6] Some impressive performances for the club earned him an invitation to practice with the Jamaica Colts team. However, his job made it impossible to attend, and he was not considered for the Jamaican side against Lord Tennyson’s English touring side in 1927.[7] That year, Headley began working for Keeling–Lindo Estates, in St Catherine. The firm were enthusiastic cricket patrons, allowing employees time off to play in matches, so that Headley was able to attend practice with the Jamaica team on a regular basis. He also moved to the St Catherine Cricket Club, captained by his immediate superior in Keeling–Lindo.[8] To generate more income, Headley took a second job, working for the Jamaica Fruit and Shipping Company, but he wanted a secure profession. To this end, he planned to move to America to pursue a career in dentistry. However, he was now on the verge of the Jamaica team and a delay in the arrival of the application forms for his American work permit allowed him to make his first-class debut for Jamaica against another touring team led by Lord Tennyson.[8]”

  28. David Avatar
    David

    @Dee Word

    You are unable to make a point without being goaded by ill conceived positions? Our cricket is dead, Bush Tea opined on it years ago. There is no national identity for players to coalesce behind now with the emergence of franchise cricket. It is dying and soon will be dead like sugar and LIAT.


    CWI needs to be disbanded
    THE STATE OF West Indies’ cricket certainly saddens all of us in the Caribbean. We have now hit a new all-time low. We have buried ourselves deeper and deeper into a hole. It hurts many of us tremendously but where are we really at?
    West Indies’ cricket has played a significant role in building a Caribbean identity and moreover transforming the Caribbean people but if we, as a Caribbean, are to further transform, I think Cricket West Indies (CWI) needs to be disbanded.
    I am a full supporter of regional integration and unity within the West Indies but I think it is clear that we have not found the solution to dealing with our challenges. CWI is tasked with charting a developmental path for West Indies’ cricket but has failed to do so for the last 30 years. Our colonial territorial past is still very much etched within our cricketing system and the art of territorial politics has crept more and more into it.
    I think it is time now we as a Caribbean people seriously question the gate keepers of West Indies’ cricket. Each individual country should now take charge of the development of their cricket within their country. Privatepublic partnerships can be the driving force of social, financial and cricketing development within the countries, similar to what is done in the majority of the cricketing countries globally. We cannot be solely dependent on financing from the International Cricket Council.
    Investment of funds
    Secondly, if the CWI is still to operate let them be the guiding agency for the individual countries operating. I believe this can go a long way in developing and honing talent internationally. Similar to how United States has risen through the ranks in recent times through the investment of funds and grassroots development programmes, we can do the same in our individual countries as it is being done already. I do believe we have some of the most talented players, coaches, sports scientists and administrators who can transform our cricket within our countries. It is evident CWI is not utilising them.
    It will be a bold step and we will have to start from the bottom and make our way to the top. But as a youngster coming up in this and understanding the role West Indies’ cricket played in transforming a Caribbean people in the late 1950s to 1990s it is certainly embarrassing now more than ever.
    As my senior fellow cricket enthusiast Senator Reverend Dr John Rodgers once said, the West Indies cricket team are playing for a united Caribbean that has never and will never exist. I leave it there for now.
    – TAAHIR BULBULIA

    Source: Nation

  29. David Avatar
    David

    After killing the goose looksie #liat:

    Govt lowers tax to boost travel
    BARBADOS HAS REDUCED the airport service charge to boost travel to the island from within CARICOM.
    Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill led off debate on the Airport Service Charge (Amendment) Bill 2023 in the House of Assembly yesterday, with the legislation being passed and the tax reduced from US$35 to US$20.
    It is intended that the sixmonth reduction from July 1 to December 14 will stimulate CARICOM travel to Barbados during the summer months when Barbados traditionally experiences a dearth of visitors, particular from the Caribbean. The cost of inter-regional travel is particularly high for people from within the CARICOM region.
    Gooding-Edghill said: “We felt that this was an opportunity for us to stimulate the Caribbean travel market. We recognise that we have to stimulate the local market . . . We would have had pre-COVID LIAT that would have brought a lot of passengers to Barbados. We no longer have LIAT in this form that we had. It has now effectively been reduced to a very small portion of the passengers coming from within the Caribbean to Barbados.
    Additional capacity
    “What we felt, not withstanding that we have to work with the regional airlines to build additional capacity to ensure that we get more arrivals into Barbados, we took this step because
    we felt confident that a reduction in the airport service charge will stimulate travel within the region and also ensure that we get more arrivals from the Caribbean into Barbados.”
    Gooding-Edghill asserted that Government would “continue to work, in the absence of LIAT in its original form, with a number of Caribbean airlines”. He indicated two such airlines, Air Antilles and Inter-Caribbean Airlines, were already beginning to fill the void, as it had been announced they would both contribute more than 37 000 seats to this destination.
    “I am pleased to say, based on the load factors coming out of both regional carriers, that we are seeing an increase in the number of arrivals from within CARICOM.”
    Gooding-Edghill advised that arrivals from the CARICOM area between January and April this year were trending at 72 per cent of the 2019 pre-COVID level.
    “What we are seeing year-onyear is that there are substantial adjustments to the arrivals coming out of the region . . . because we have worked on Air Antilles which has increased the number of aircraft flying to Barbados,” he said.
    The Tourism Minister added that tourism planners had to continually think of initiatives that would stimulate the market and the adjustment to the service charge was “but one such initiative that we have put in place”. (GC)


    Source: Nation

  30. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    Dpd
    I have no facts. Team sports is an interesting exercise. Full of anomalies.
    Many defy explanation beyond, the players meshed to perform.
    There are numerous examples across many team sports. The WI cricket team in ice hockey, the Toronto Maple Leafs. A once great franchise, who despite all the $$, cannot win. Multiple coaches, GMs, players, sports psychologists, and the results are eerily similar. They cannot win.
    Something is amiss, but they cannot figure it out?
    A genius was reported to say that madness was doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result?
    Tell us how you propose to instill a winning environment. Or change. Otherwise like the Leafs, you have 30 years of losing ahead of you?

  31. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Northern Observer
    Insightful comment but there is a bigger picture here. Are we sure that any one of our islands can actually maintain an independent cricket structure up to and including test cricket ?
    Will such structures undermine regional integration and further fragment our cultural , social and economic development?
    Can countries that have great difficulty in maintaining community centers and schools’ playing fields find the financial and other resources to go it alone in cricket ?
    I humbly think that cricket has been a great force in maintaining and promoting regional unity.
    Unfortunately we are at our lowest ebb but we cannot throw out the baby with the bath water.
    I repeat it was an insightful comment.

  32. BS your way out - never admit there is a problem Avatar
    BS your way out – never admit there is a problem

    This is the third time I broke a promise to myself of staying away from this post. After all, if there is nothing good that I can say, I should really keep silent. But I happenned to come across the “Ten Power Play activities” that Mr Shallow promised and I want you to examine them and tell me ‘How do these improve WI cricket?’
    One comment – when a man comes up with 10 bullet points (1) he is trying to full up space and (2) three or four of the points are just BS; First I give you my two-point Power Play
    Theo:
    1. Get the boys on the field with bats, balls and two wickets and practice, practice, practice, practice.
    2. Minimum standards must be met in order to make the team.
    – If you bowling all day and cannot take a wicket – go home.
    – If your time at bat is under 3 minutes, we don’t have batsman Viagra – go home
    -If you behind the wicket or in the filed and cannot stop a ball – go home

    Shallow Power plays are about making more money and not fixing the team
    1. Meeting with key Stakeholders. Engage Governments, Corporate Caribbean, Legends of our cricket, WIPA and global Cricket Counterparts to forge strategic partnerships to advance West Indies cricket.
    2. Revise Committee Structures. Establish purposeful committees with appropriate personnel to improve the overall efficiency of CWI.
    3. Review Territorial Boards (TBs) Development Funding. Assess the financial positions of TBs and provide them with a more sustainable and favourable funding model. Debt repayment will be prioritised!
    4. Establish a diverse Commercial Arm. Assemble a group of business and marketing experts to identify new commercial opportunities to increase
    revenue for CWI.
    5. Revise Financial Management Strategy. Establish best practices to gain a greater degree of efficiency with CWI financial management.
    6. Champion an Under-23 Programme. Initiate and fund a structured under-23 programme across the region that will complement the Emerging Players program.
    7. Conduct a Human Resources Audit.
    Examine our HR policies, practices, and personnel, to identify opportunities for improvement, with the aim of increasing productivity.
    8. Governance Reform. Strengthen the philosophy of Unity of Purpose with key stakeholders while continuing the evolution of CWI governance to ensure it is in alignment with modern-day best practices, and culturally applicable.
    9. Audit Training And Playing Facilities. Conduct a thorough assessment of the facilities across the region. This would be the initial phase of a broad capital project to improve cricket infrastructure across the region.
    10. Implement Franchise Review Recommendations. Implement the recent re commendations to improve the franchise system.

  33. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @WS
    I know you like your cricket, but also are more socially connected than I.
    I agree with your findings.
    Yet, my interjection didn’t mean ALL Caribbean island nations should be alone.
    Sometimes we don’t appreciate what we have til it’s gone?
    There maybe another alignment which is better to suited to the realities of the various variations of today’s game and the fact players need to make a living too.
    Politics and sports have always made uncomfortable bedfellows.

  34. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    Twenty+ years, several different captains and a whopping 21 coaches later, WI cricket remains in the doldrums. We are quick to celebrate a test match victory with talk that the team ‘has turned the corner,’ but become territorial after losing a series. It happened because there were too many Trinis, Jamaicans or Bajans on the team; fire the selectors, change the Board. Interestingly, in response to WI not qualifying for WC, Gaston Browne reminded ‘all and sundry’ that he advised his regional political counterparts against their attempts to intervene in WI cricket and conspiring to remove then CWI president, Dave Cameron.

  35. Today's mantra Avatar
    Today’s mantra

    Today’s mantra for our daily practice

    Repeat the following affirmation 3 times mentally
    “Today is a new opportunity to grow and learn”

    Take a couple of normal breaths feeling the effects of the sounds and the vibrations in your body and the mind

  36. David Avatar
    David

    The days of individual island people supporting a cricket flag because of a 60s, 70s, 80s experience is gone. It is why cricket will die.

  37. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    I know that I say a lot and may be accused of saying nothing. But there is one glaringly obvious point that need to be made clear.

    The problem with WI cricket can only be solved when we can put a relatively good team (including coaches) on the field. Pie charts, presentations, power plays … means virtually nothing.

    Have a great day! May your success be greater than the WI cricket team.

  38. David Avatar
    David

    Interesting interview-

    https://youtu.be/gJCe-QtX28I

  39. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    @David, could you PRETTY PLEASE show me where I am “unable to make a point without being goaded by ill conceived positions?”😎

    Your remark makes an absolute NONSENSE the discussions… but does effect its goal!😅🤣

    I give fact based responses to support my views …

    It is your view and others that our cricket (WI unit) is dead and whether Bush Tea or Tanti Merle opined on it years ago does NOT make it the gospel nor that the contrarian view is wrong.

    That you would condemn my view by simply heralding theei view to indeed goad me is creatively amusing, fah sure.

    Looka, if the powers that be disband WI cricket chasing the dream of national team unity then they will be rewarded for their folly.

    Its also highly amusing that every disband piece starts off with the awesomeness of the unified WI team and what it did for the region and STILL gets so sweetly to the point of recommending island teams as a new better option…. makes NO sense.

    So there u have it: my ill-conceived position.

    BTW LIAT you highlighted is dead …

    Can you also tell me where the Trini carrier lovingly called Bee-Wee is currently flying! That lovely sustainable power of national passion right … yippee, hooray!

    I gone yah hear!🙏🏿

  40. GP Avatar
    GP

    JOHN KNOX
    I OFTEN WONDER WHY YOU COMMENT HERE ESPECIALLY IN RESPONSE TO THE TOTALLY ILLITERATE DPD

    RE CRICKET AND SUGAR
    I WILL MAKE ONE POINT THAT CAN NOT BE REFUTED

    TELL US WHO EMPLOYED CLYDE WALCOTT IN GUYANA IN THE 50’S
    TELL US ALSO THE NAMES OF THREE OF THE BEST GUYANESE CRICKETERS WHO ENTERED THE W I TEAM FROM 57 THAT CAME FROM THT REGION
    TELL US ABOUT THE OTHERS WHO FOLLOWED THEM

    NOW TELL US THAT THERE WAS NO RELATIONSHIP BETEWEEN SUGAR AND CRICKET THERE

    WHY HAS CRICKET TRADITIONALLY BEEN PLAYED IN BARBADOS IN THE WET SEASON OF THE YEAR
    THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED

    THERE IS A CLEAR ASSOCIATION BETWEEN WEST INDIES CRICKET AND SUGAR PLANTOCRACY IN THE FOUR MAIN ISLANDS THAT COMPOSED THE WEST INDIES TEAM FROM ITS INCEPTION

    WHY IS IT THAT ON BU THAT MANY COME HERE TALKING BS AND CRITICISING 0THERS WHO ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TAKING ABOUT

    THEY DO IT IN MEDICINE
    THEY DO IT IN BIBLE
    IT IS HILARIOUS

  41. David Avatar
    David

    @Dee Word

    Caribbean Airlines is a rebranded/reorganized Bewee. The problems of the cricket seem to be bigger than what is being discussed. We need to lift the analysis to a meaningful level.

  42. John Avatar
    John

    TheOGazerts on July 5, 2023 at 8:48 AM said:
    Rate This

    I know that I say a lot and may be accused of saying nothing. But there is one glaringly obvious point that need to be made clear.

    The problem with WI cricket can only be solved when we can put a relatively good team (including coaches) on the field. Pie charts, presentations, power plays … means virtually nothing.

    Have a great day! May your success be greater than the WI cricket team.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    You will never get a good WI team until its members feel there is a future for them after cricket or they are manhandled by a team like the Aussies in 1975 and they feel they have a point to prove. Tony Greig helped a great deal!!

    WI cricket is subsidised by cricket in the larger countries. The largesse is distributed to the players by what are essentially politically appointed administrators.

    Nobody in the West Indies trusts a politician and the players on the team are no different. They know their future employment is entirely in the hands of completely untrustworthy individuals.

    Team members of old had employment other than cricket.

    What does Chanderpaul do for a living?

    Maybe his wife has invested his earnings sensibly and their future is assured but savings do run out if there is no income.

    What did Gary Sobers do after his retirement from cricket?

    The only way we can get a good team is if the players themselves decide they want to make it big and use their subsidised existence to practise, practise, practise until it hurts and they build the skills they clearly do not have.

    But they won’t because that requires a discipline few in the West Indies have, plus, there are too many distractions.

  43. a new broom sweeps clean Avatar
    a new broom sweeps clean

    Proverb. a new broom sweeps clean, but an old broom knows the corners. New management imposes radical changes, but those with prior experience have more knowledge.

    Lowering of standards can be explained where members in a team teach and learn from each other.

    The champions of old would have influenced the newer members of their team, who then will become the next group to influence the next one after them and so on and so forth.

    Down the line losing teams are influencing more losers.

  44. people were called Gods Avatar
    people were called Gods

    “THEY DO IT IN MEDICINE
    THEY DO IT IN BIBLE”

    You may define yourself as a medical and biblical scholar,
    but as pointed out there are many better doctors and preachers.

    Back in the day people were called Gods

    Jesus was just a guy who taught people how to get in touch with or back to their spirituality and had many followers.

    His disciples and Christians that followed exaggerated their accounts of his life and spun some yarns for good measure.

  45. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    OF COURSE its now CARIBBEAN Airlines … yet you refuse to see the absolutely absurdity of the break up arguments.

    Again I ask WHERE is Bee-Wee the TRINI airline flying…

    Oh right with the Jamaicans and others as a necessary collective airline!

    Lookaa break up de team and come back years later bawling murdaaa! SMH.

    And to you I say this to pass on to your racist bloggers.

    It’s obvious there is a nexus between sugar, colonial masters and cricket… I previously agreed as much.

    It’s reprehensible that anyone would see that bluntly ENFORCED work on men who took the best route to support their families and pull themselves up the ladder of life as some benign situation of working and playing hard.

    Reprehensible. Steeupse!

    Looka break it up.

    I dun wid this circle stupidity and racist bafoonery.

  46. John Avatar
    John

    This is why we have the problems we have in our cricket.

    We no longer see things like the clip below shows us happening in India.

    In countries like India, young children are taking the game seriously and practicing without ceasing, until it hurts.

    … and they are hungry.

    By the time they get to be eligible for national selection they have thousands of hours invested and have seen every quirk of bat and ball.

    When they walk out onto a cricket field they are fully armed and dangerous and if they have had mentors who instill in them the self confidence that they can do the impossible, they will, like water off a duck’s back.

    … a la Sobers.

  47. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    In India, according to a survey of Indian Government 5,45,93,224 people play cricket, no matter whether these are male or female.

  48. John Avatar
    John

    There is something fundamental missing in the characters of our players and I think it has to do with their upbringing.

  49. David Avatar
    David

    Thanks Hants, you could have added India generated over a billion in revenue. How much is generated in the Caribbean?

    https://m.economictimes.com/news/sports/big-one-bcci-could-earn-usd-1-15-billion-in-revenue-share-from-icc-during-2023-2027-cycle/articleshow/100140410.cms

  50. John Avatar
    John

    The only way to match the big countries is by serious individual player commitment to be as good as their competitors … and better.

    We just need a few good men!!

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