By David Jacksn
The West Indies cricket team represents a
sporting confederation of English-speaking
Caribbean countries. The history of this
confederation goes way back the 1880s
when the first combined West Indies team was
formed and toured Canada and the United
States. In the 1890s, the first representative sides
were selected to play visiting English sides. In the
1920s the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) was
formed. The WICB joined the sport’s international
ruling body, the Imperial Cricket Conference, in
1926, and played their first official international
match, which in cricket is called a Test, in 1928.
Although blessed with some great players in
their early years, as a Test nation, their successes
remained sporadic until the 1960s, by which time
the side had changed from a white-dominated
to a black-dominated side. By the late 1970s, the
West Indies was recognized as unofficial world
champions, a title they retained throughout the
1980s. Their team from the 1970s and 1980s is now
widely regarded as having been one of the best
in test cricket’s history. During this great period,
the West Indies were noted for their potent fastbowling
attack, backed up by some of the best
batsmen in the world. The 1980s saw them set a
then-record streak of 11 consecutive Test victories, which
was part of a still-standing record of 27 tests without
defeat.
During the early 1990s, the West Indies team was dealt
a great blow with the retirement of top players like: Viv
Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Jeffrey Dujon and Malcolm
Marshall. This left a relatively young and inexperienced
side. Richie Richardson, who was appointed the new
captain of the team, did, however, prove to be a decent
successor to Richards. Walsh became the new leader
of the pace bowling attack and a new crop of young
players emerged such as Brian Lara, Curtly Ambrose, Ian
Bishop, Carl Hooper, Phil Simmons, Keith Arthurton and
Winston Benjamin.West Indies went on to win several
more Test series under captain Richardson.
In 1994-95 West Indies was defeated 2-1 by Australia
and in1996 World Cup were defeated in the semi-finals.
Richie Richardson cricketing career came to an end after
that world cup exit. Courtney Walsh was appointed as
the new captain, but in 1998 he lost the captaincy to
Brian Lara. Later that year the West Indies made their
first ever official tour to South Africa. It was a disaster,
starting with player revolts and ending with a 5–0 defeat.
More disappointments were to come. West Indies 1999
World cup campaign ended in the group stages and the
year, England won a series against the West Indies for
the first time in thirty-one years and the decade ended
with another 5–0 defeat by Australia. West Indies cricket
was then in decline. West Indies now sit 8th in Test, just
above Bangladesh. In ODIs we are ranked 10th and 7th
in T20s.
Cricket has always been a symbol of the hope
and achievement for the people of the Caribbean,
uniting the region in a remarkable way. It has been one
of the few areas of our common West Indian culture and
experiences, where together, we have been able to
achieve global recognition and excellence. In the glory
years of West Indies cricket, West Indians walked tall, as
a people, beaming with pride and satisfaction as, one
by one, we defeated our opponents across the globe.
Sadly, we have seen over the last three decades, an
almost total collapse of cricket in the West Indies. Many
of our players are underperforming, seem unmotivated
and general lack the grit and determination which
characterized so many of the former greats like: George
Headley, Gary Sobers, the three Ws, Rohan Kanhai, Clive
Lloyd, Viv Richards, Brian Lara, Michael Holding and
Malcolm Marshall, just to name a few.
But are the present crop of players the only ones to blame
for the state of West Indies Cricket? Certainly not! The
administrative structure of West Indies cricket must take
much of the blame. Players are the visible product of a
cricket organization and how they perform on the field
of play is often an indication of the administrative system
and structure of the organization which controls cricket
in that club or region. Cricket West Indies is responsible
for creating the rules for the proper governing of the
system and is also further responsible for the guidance
of West Indies cricket so that the region can continue
to produce disciplined, highly motivated and serious
cricketers. Cricketers who will represent the region well
on the world stage. The current administration therefore
One of the main responsibility of a coach is
to ensure that the players are motivated and
disciplined. We need to produce cricketers who
are enthusiastic and determined to excel at the
highest level. Mental toughness is necessary if our
cricketers are to lift the level of there performance.
Mediocrity must not be allowed to continue. Get
serious and improve or get out! We have talented
players in the region, but many are not showing
the necessary skills and determination.
Mental and physical fitness MUST go together,
and it is the coaches who, in most instances are
responsible to ensure that the players develop the
right attitude which leads to better performances.
There also needs to be greater efforts in the
development of young cricketers in the region.
The development of cricket must begin at the
school level in every island. It must be part of the
curriculum of all schools, with established program
at both the primary and secondary levels. More
qualified coaches should be appointed to ensure
that the students learn the art of this great game
and develop the necessary skills at an early age
that they can apply later on, and excel in their
cricketing careers.
The government of the regions must play a more
significant role in the development of cricket in
the West Indies if we are to see any meaningful
improvement. Besides the implementation of a
better structure for cricket in schools. There must
be greater financial input and upgrading of
facilities for cricket, including modern cricketing
stadiums, with proper facilities.