They certainly dont yet belong on the Senior Team , and every day they are on the Senior Team proves this Fact .

MANY OF THEM INCLUDING SOME VETERANS SIMPLT DONT KNOW THE CARDINAL RULES ABOUT BATTING , IN PARTICULAR , BOWLING AND FIELDING .

It is quite evident that many on the WICB , and those who claim to be Cricket Fans , have failed to realize that THE WICB HASNT SENT ANY YOUNG PLAYER TO ANY ACADEMIES SINCE GAYLE & SARWAN , WHO ARE CURRENTLY THE LEADING BATSMEN ON THE TEAM .

Most of the Countries in the Region is Hell bent on getting their youngsters on the Team , despite the fact that though talented aint know a damn thing about the Cardinal Rules of Cricket .

THE ONLY WAY THAT ALL CRICKETERS CAN LEARN THE CARDINAL RULES OF CRICKET APART FROM BEING IN ACADEMIES IS TO READ BOOKS ON ALL ASPECTS OF CRICKET . YES I KNOW THAT TODAYS PLAYERS DONT READ , BUT IT IS ONLY BY READING THEY CAN LEARN , NEVER MIND WE CURRENTLY LIVE IN THE TV ERA .

I sincerely hope that those who are responsible for young Brathwaite are seeing what is currently going on .

My perspective has always been , and will always be that throwing youngsters into the Senior Team , who arent ready , with a sink or swim mentality simply isnt going to work .

WHY ? BECAUSE THE STANDARD OF CRICKET IN THE REGION IS LOWER THAT THE STANDARD OF INTERNATIONAL CRICKET . THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT MOST OF OUR PLAYERS ARE PART TIMR CRICKETERS , WHO PLAY THE LEAST CRICKET OF ALL INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS .

THIS IS ALSO DOUBLY COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT THE WICB IS CUTTING BACK ON REGIONAL CRICKET . SO THE QUESTION IS HOW ARE OUR PLAYERS GOING TO BUILD UP THEIR PHYSICAL & MENTAL STAMINA ???

In reply to POINT

Dont we have some Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Barbados? Why cant we use that untill the So called great one is started?

In reply to Pacy

I have been hearing that for sometime , but I have no idea whether they are up and running .

My take is that our current youngsters should go to Academies outside the Region if those in the Region arent operational .

BUT IN MY OPINION JUST AS IMPORTANT IS THE FACT THAT THEY MUST READ BOOKS ON BATTING ; BOWLING & FIELDING . THAT IS WHERE THE CARDINAL RULES OF CRICKET CAN BE FOUND .

ALL CAPATINS IN THE REGION NEED TO ALSO READ BOOKS ON FIELD PLACING , THAT CAN CUT DOWN ON THE TOTAL OF RUNS SCORED AGAINST OUR PLAYERS .

As I have stated , throwing youngsters into the deep who dont know the Cardinal Rules of Cricket , is unhelpful to their Confidence , which ultimately affects their performances .

In reply to POINT

the one in BIM is still not ready.

been almost 2 years since the promises and $$ allocated

In reply to POINT

Why don't you recommend some books that they should read?

In reply to powen001

I am very surprised , because it was Beckles who was very vociferous in moving the Academy that was in Grenada to Barbados .

I wasnt impressed by Beckles , and I still remain unimpressed with him . Frankly , he like the Emperors in the WICB , like the Character in Alice in Wonderland , are RUNNING VERY FAST , BUT ARE STILL IN THE SAME PLACE .

My fear also is that the Academy at UWI , is going to be solely for those going to UWI , if that is the case , then it smacks of Elitism .

MY VIEW IS THAT ALL ACADEMIES IN THE REGION MUST ACCEPT PLAYERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WHO DONT HAVE ACADEMIES .

ANOTHER OF MY FEAR IS THAT THOSE COUNTRIES THAT GET THEIR ACADEMIES OPERATIONAL , WILL ONLY USE THEM TO TRY PACKING THE WEST INDIES TEAM WITH THEIR NATIONALS . IF THAT IS DONE I SIMPLYT CANNOT CONDONE SUCH BEHAVIOUR

In reply to POINT

Why cant we just do some Camps for Batting & Bowling untill the Great Academy comes and becomes operational.... We had been stagnant in our development programs under the cover for Academy for years now...

In reply to Pacy

I dont have a problem with that , IN MY OPINION ALL OF THIS COMES UNDER THE BALIWICK OF THE WICB , WHICH IS EMPOWERED IN THE GOVERNANCE OF CRICKET IN THE REGION .

However , we are going to hear those in the WICB claim that they have no money . WHAT THEY FAIL TO UNDERSTAND , IS THAT IF OUR TEAM CONTINUES ON THE CURRENT PATH , OF STRUGGLING HARD TO BEAT TEAMS , THEN ONE DAY IT WILL FIND ITSELF IN THE SAME TIER , WITH HOLLAND , IRELAND ETC .

Obviously , if this happens , the revenue gained from the Teams willing to play against our Team is going to be much less than it currently is .

IT IS THEREFORE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE WICB , KNOWING THAT IT CRAVES MONEY TO ENSURE THAT OUR PLAYERS ARE PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY READY , TO ENGAGE TEAMS RANKED ABOVE OUR TEAM .

In my opinion , these are the things that the WICB needs to do to make our Team competitive .

THE REGIONAL MATCHES IN ALL THE VERSIONS OF THE GAME , MUST LAST LONGER THAN ONE ROUND OF MATCHES
ESPECIALLY SINCE OUR PLAYERS ARE PART TIME CRICKETERS , WHO PLAY THE LEAST CRICKET OF ALL INTERNATIONAL TEAMS .

THERE MUST BE A LONGER TIME FRAME FOR CAMPS ; HAVING JUST ONE WARMUP MATCH IS ASININE , AND TOTALLY UNHELPFUL TOWARDS MAKING OUR TEAM COMPETITIVE .

YES , I am fully aware that this is cost money , however , sometime ago the WICB borrowed 15 million dollars , from sources unknown , I can see no reason why it cannot again go to those same sources .

In reply to POINT ... all we need to do is look at the Oz structure and we could learn a thing or two ... a player gets to play a lot a cricket before he gets to Sheffield Shield level ... the results speak for themselves.

On the point of loan sources ... would you lend this bunch money again?