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I’ve never been much of a one for sympathising with the opposition, particularly in cricket.

Brought to awareness of the great game around the time of Allan Border’s triumphantly vengeful sweep through England in 1989, I learnt that when your enemy is down, you rejoice, and when your enemy falls even lower, you laugh uproariously.

This, I have always been given to believe, is one of the joys of sport: the ability to take pleasure in the misfortune of others, just as they take pleasure in yours. After all, when Australia has gone through the darkest of dark times in the past, the rest of the world never seemed particularly sympathetic.

That time in the late ’80s, of course, was also the heyday of the West Indies, and nothing then seemed less likely than a day coming when I would not only feel depressed about the lamentable state of an opposing cricket nation, but that that cricket nation would be the Windies. And yet here we are. I feel almost as sad about the state of Caribbean cricket as I have when my own country’s been losing. What on earth has happened to me?

 

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In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

The Author of this article is probably unaware of the fact that the decline of Cricket in the Region stems from the fact that WE are saddled by a Cricket Board , whose Members are only interested in making sure that their power remains intact & undiluted .

Nothing else matters to these Folks . NOTHING !!!! . They Bluffed ; Bamboozled ;
engaged in chicanery ; Arrogance ; Incompetence ; Ineptness ; just to ensure that they maintain their stranglehold on
Cricket in the Region .

A couple of years ago , the New Zealand
Cricket Board , an Entity a hell of a lot better that the WICB decided to have an honest assessment of ots stewardship of
New Zealand Cricket , and it made changes ,
it is once again on the upswing in International Cricket .

The Worst International Cricket Board in the World , aka the WICB however , prefers
to demonstrate to the Region , and the Cricket World that it is the BOSS , and relish in the power they have , never mind the fact that our Team is close to the Bottom .

They are not bothered by writers who bemoan the once great Heritage of West Indies Cricket ever so often they commission Reports , and then swiftly discard them .

My take is that it is its colossal ARROGANCE , why it now has a 42 million dollars cloud hanging over its head . Their
Philosophy is that They are always Right .
It is their lack of Business Acumen , why in their haste to belittle the Players , they did not consider the fact that by cancelling the Tour , the BCCI was going to
have financial problems because of the cancellation .

ALL THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF ARROGANCE &

THE FACT THAT THEY RELISH HAVING AN

ADVERSARY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PLAYERS TO

WIELD THEIR POWER .

Meanwhile the ICC says nothing , Sees Nothing & does nothing , akin to being the 3 monkeys in one . While the WICB which has for many years now been an embarrassment not only to it self but the Region ; It perhaps thinks that it aint taking a hit regarding the lack of Good Governance by the WICB ; but it is .

It is high time this madness stop . I find it strange that EVERYONE writes about the
Players , but say NOTHING about how Cricket in the Region got to this Sad , Sorry, State . If they did that , they would discover that WE are saddled by People who lack Foresight & Vision ; they have never read the book " HOW TO WIN FRIENDS & INFLUENCE PEOPLE " . Their individual & collective lust for power prevents prevents them from doing the right things to revive
Cricket in the Region .

This is why I have been and will be in the forefront of those calling for Total & Complete Structural Changes in Cricket in this Region . WE cannot be a Super Power ,
with Egotistical People at the Helm of Cricket in this Region .

To those who want to write about the current state of Cricket in the Region , and the decline must focus on those in the
Administration of Cricket in the Region .
It is they who have brought Cricket in the Region to a new Low .

This is fascinating.

NZ have bever been ranked number 1 in tests
NZ have never won a WC, ODI or T20. This year is their best chance in their history.
They have less than 5 great players in their entire cricketing history.

In 2012 they were hammered in tests, ODI and T20 in a series in the Caribbean.

If you asked fans if they would take the last year and a half over the last 70 years of WI Cricket history, the answer would be pretty obvious, even for those who subscribe to the what have you done for me lately model.

The fundamental question when you address WI cricket is....has WI cricket overachieved or underachieved. We have context of course. Unless you want to take netball, and despite mikesivas repeated attempt to make out as if Jamaicas athletics success reflects anything other than the ability of Caribbean INDIVIDUALS to shine, Cricket has been the sole team and group success from this region.

My thought process is that we have overachieved because there is no tangible evidence that there is any reason why we should logically have dominated a sport for that long.

But what about the chaotic WICB you always harp on about.

Both SL and Pakistan have the most chaotic cricket infrastructures and boards in World Cricket and are less well paid than our WI cricketers but both of them have had infinitely more success than the well organised New Zealanders historically, and of late WI. In fact taking how recent SL entered the upper echelon of the sport its actually embarassing to this efficient NZ model you present. Pakistani players repeated flirtations with match fixing is a direct result of how poorly paid and managed they are. Yet....are they not better cricketers ? Do they not compete in the midst of that chaos ?

The truth is there is not enough committed talent. Simple. You can wrap it up as much as you can, bawl about the WICB etc, but you cant change the tide unless you get a generation of players to synchronise their talent in one team.

It is logical that a nation of a billion people who are cricket crazy would one day spawn a couple generations of good cricketers. That they hadnt before is the real mystery. It is also logical that nations which spend a considerable portion of their GDP in sports development (you hear this....nations), would see their investment turn into fruit.

Now if anyone can logically look at Caribbean governments, Caribbean business and Caribbean fans and somehow deduce that the WI Cricket team is a betrayal of their team oriented successes then I suggest that person better contact Malcolm Gladwell and co write a new blockbuster on fostering organisational change.

In the meantime, you can support NZ Cricket.

In reply to Commie

You love call my name, eh?

Correction: Caribbean athletes...Kim Collins of St. Kitts-Nevis did what the West Indies couldn't last night - beat world class opposition!

In reply to mikesiva

Yes...Kim Collins is a big team.

In reply to Commie

I guess I hit a nerve , you & others cannot dispute the following facts .

1. Despite the many years of bad Management ; those in the governance of Cricket in the Region , have bluntly refused to change their modus operandi . Do you Agree or disagree ???

2. The WICB for many years has refused to
realize that Cricket is a very serious business , that demands the business of
Cricket be taken seriously . Have you seen evidence that the WICB has taken Cricket in the Region seriously ???

3 Perhaps you could tell me ; why the Corporations who were Sponsors of the Regional Tournaments stopped being Sponsors ??

4. Why is it the WICB cannot seek Financial Sponsors in the Region ???

5. Why is it that Some of our Players perpetually have problems getting to Overseas Countries ?? this reflects on the
Incompetence of the WICB .

6. In terms of Performance ; how do you
rate the WICB ???

7. Do you agree that our Players Play less Cricket than their opponents on Teams ranked above our Team ???

8. Do You agree that our Players need to play more Cricket to be fully competitive at the International Level ???

9. Why are our Players not playing more matches so that they can be fully competitive ????

10. Do you believe that the WICB knows that
our Players need to play more Cricket so that they can be fully competitive in the International Cricket Arena ???

In reply to POINT

Ima sit in the airport as usual so I will indulge in this exercise of futility. These are not facts. They are questions.

Disagree. WIPA sat on the Board in the last few years. The players have gotten 3 tiers of retainers. Now the fc players are being paid for the next calendar year SOLELY to play cricket. In the 1980's the fc players played 6 matches and done. They would then go back to their regular job and playing weekend 2 day club cricket. Anyone who thinks there hasnt been change is dotish.



So how did they even put together a bid for the Cricket World Cup ? How did they end up getting record profits from that WC. How did they sign up the CPL ? How did they setup the HPC and got Sagicor to sponsor it as an Academy ? How did they get Cable & Wireless and Digicel fighting over the team branding rights ? How did they get Ten Sports to pay them for WI Tv rights ? The real question you should ask is whether YOU, POINT, would take your hard earned money and invest it in WI Cricket, players or WICB.



Because sponsorship of the regional tourney was philantrophy. Shell sponsored the regional tourney and when they left for a brief time Busta used to. Shell left the region as a product brand, and Busta couldnt see the commercial value. As soon as ESPN signed up for the Regional Super 50, Nagico came on board.



WHat regional company besides Digicel and LIME have the reach and the cash to justify pouring money into the biggest hole there is ? Clico was the next largest regional company and we know what happened. Who else spans the entire region and therefore sees the need ? ANd ontop of that, is the PRODUCT worthwhile. Would YOU sponsor WI Cricket and if so WHY.



The English language is a funny thing. The WI is the only team that have players from different jurisdictions in World Cricket. In the last 20 years, count on your hand how many people from the Caribbean had visa issues as WI Cricketers. Then tell me what is the major issue.



Wi are number 8. That is the rating of the WICB and its players.



Yes. As they always have even through the better years. Hopefully the PCL wont be hot air and teams will really stay together all year training together.



They need to play better quality cricket more than simply more cricket. You could have the SUper 50 last 6 months but if the quality is the shit we saw, it will do nothing.



MONEY



You can know and discuss all you want but it takes MONEY.

Now my question to you is, if you are so interested in WI Cricket why dont you go and challenge Elson Crick in St Vincent so that you can sit on the Windwards board and then WI Board. Then you can give all your insight into the sport.

Let me address what you have stated .

WIPA sat on the Board for the last few years , Sitting on the Board aint mean much , how much influence did they have on the Board ??

You know you should have been a Comedian , your answers are making me laugh .

Please enlighten me regarding the year these changes came; about I want the specific year ??

My recollection is that Stanford was the first person to have the Regional 20/20 MATCHES TELEVISED . The WICB to my knowledge did not originate the idea .

I have seen in this Forum reference to the fact that the HPC is not currently in existence is that True ???

I do recall that at one time a Cement Company , I believe from Trinidad was once a Sponsor also another Company , they both left , but why did you fail to mention them ???? Could you tell me why they stopped being Sponsors ???

Is there an impediemt that prevents the WICB from seek Sponsors in the Region ??
or is it because of their Contractual Obligations to a certain Sponsor ???

You seem to know a lot , so tell me who won the suit that involved the WICB ; DIGICEL ;
and Stanford ??? there had to be a winner or winners & a Loser or Losers .

The WICB has an obligation & a duty to ensure that the Players selected can get to the host Country in a Timely manner , what
happened in New Zealand & recently in South Africa is unpardonable . Imagine that New Zealand Cricketers had to field for our Team .But this dosen't faze the WICB or apparently you . This aint a figment of my
imagination .

I will be willing to spend money , but the following stipulations must be met .

1. A complete restructuring of Cricket in the Region .

2. the resignations of ALL persons on the Regional Boards ; the WICB & Operations at
Factory Road .

3. the President of the WICB must be elected ; not selected .

4. the people in the Region must have a 5 year development Plan so WE can measure the progress or non progress of the Plan .

I would not want to be a member of the current Windward Islands Board , the decisions that they have made over the years is asinine . I have in this Forum stated them .

Now regarding Elson Crick , he is one of the many people in West Indies Cricket , simply marking time . That is all most f them do . they have no Vision , when they leave ; another group of marking time take their Places .

HELL LIFE IS FREAKING GREAT; ESPECIALLY

WHEN ALL THE SO CALLED STARS IN THE MEDIA

ARE ON YOUR SIDE NOTHING COULD BE

GREATER THAN THAT . NEVER MIND CRICKET

IN THE REGION IS STAGNANT NEAR THE

BOTTOM .

BTW , it is only our Team that is at # 8
the WICB is dead last , which in my opinion
is the Worst of the Worse .

In reply to POINT

Stanford had money. LOADS of Money. Load of other peoples money which he ended up spending loads of time in jail for. That small factoid escapes you. He also ran the most efficient airline service in the Eastern Caribbean, and put Liat to shame. But even he had to concede that this was a money pit.

All the rest of your babbling misses out on one thing. You cant make conditions if you are not spending money. The only people spending money on the WICB besides Digicel, Espn, CPL, Nagico and Ten Sports is the ICC. They are the major benefactor of the WICB.

So spend your money and have a say. You cant be throwing air at the problem and expect to get listened to.

In reply to Commie

You conveniently left out the fact that unlike those in the WICB Stanford's Board had Vision , I have no doubt that it was his Board that broached the subject of having the matches Televised . I used to see the matches on Antigua TV .

I am glad you listed those who WICB get money from , because despite that , it could not even have a decent Camp for the Players ; so that they would be more competitive in International Cricket .

What do you have to say regarding the fact that the Task Force selected by the WICB ;
told the WICB that it MUST give the Players
their Contracts in a timely manner .

YOU ME TO TELL ME THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE

WICB DID NOT KNOW THAT ?????????????????

It is a crying shame that the ICC has allowed the WICB to become a Rogue International Cricket Board .

I see that you failed to tell me who won the Lawsuit that involved , the WICB ;
DIGICEL & Stanford .

I have already given you my stipulations , regarding spending my money . I noted with interest that the Court in India , described the BCCI as being the Custodian
of Cricket in India .

Perhaps the WICB is the Custodian of Cricket in the Region . I have always thought that having a Public Sport being
governed by a Private Entity is odd .

I believe that ALL Sports Entities need to be scrutinized , sooner or later they have scandals , so far we have had the Olympics
and FIFA . I wonder who is next . It seems to me that they attract people who are not
there for the right reasons .

In reply to Commie

Commie, I really find yuh taking this excuse making on behalf of the WICB to the extreme.

I hope yuh getting paid by the word.

In reply to POINT

You really think, that was Stanford own money he was spending, he had an annual cricket budget, and was able to produce finacials at year end?
You should never compare what Stanford did, to any business entity.
I have been to Antigua 4-5 times, three times when Stanford was there, have a look at his ground or his bank at the Airport now.
Not one employee is at the bank door polishing it as you walk in.

In reply to POINT

WHat vision ? They were simply used as point men (pun intended) to go to each regional board to sell the proposition. MONEY...that was the lingua franca.

There was a compromise deal between Digicel and Stanford. You can find it online if you dig deep.

In reply to Kurt

Look up contrarianism.

Not one of the points raise by POINT are based on anything other than emotion.

This whole forum is about emotion. Thats what its for...fanship.

In reply to Kurt

You are a very perceptive Guy , I RELISH SMOKING THEM OUT .

In reply to openning

Yes I know , you and others always repeat stating that Stanford is a Crook ; therefore
that nullifies everything his Cricket Board
did , in essence your attitude & those who
think like you ; is that to make the WICB smell like Roses , we need to obfuscate what Stanford's Board did in their governance of
Cricket in the Region's shortest format of the game .

In reply to Commie

Kim Collins is a former world champion and a crowd favourite wherever he runs....

the crowd at Düsseldorf was larger than for any of the test matches in south Africa and the men's 60m was the blue ribbon event.

In reply to Commie

IS IT MY EMOTION THAT CAUSED THE TASK FORCE

SELECTED BY THE WICB TO INFORM THE WICB

THAT THE PLAYERS MUST GET THEIR CONTRACTS IN

A TIMELY MANNER ?????????????????


YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE

WICB DID NOT KNOW THAT ??? REALLY . NEXT

YOU ARE GOING TO SAY THAT THIS IS A FIGMENT

OF MY IMAGINATION . GO AHEAD MAKE MY DAY

In reply to Kurt

I have written on his post occasionally , but he never responded , but perhaps today I have struck a nerve . You see how lengthy his responses are . On his Posts I am invisible when I write a thread .

In reply to mikesiva

Kim Collins is an athlete. He is not a team.

The closest a mens team has come to the WI team is TT and Jam qualifying for the WC.

In reply to POINT

Dude, I am not like you, who have to spent every thread on the WICB
You ask the players or his board who lose their money, how they feel about him?
Only people who like freeness talk about crooks.

In reply to POINT

It is neither the first nor the last time that a cricket Board will issue contracts either late or payments late to cricketers.

There will be disputes borne out of incompetence and yet cricket will be played.

It is your emotion starting with your nonsensical anointing of NZ cricket, that positions WI cricket in an unrealistic place.

There is no divine reason why WI cricket should be the best.

My first post on this thread reflects my thoughts on the emotional detachment from reality that WI fans suffer from.

In reply to Commie

You think that by talking about emotion , that is going to obfuscate the fact that the
WICB is a ROGUE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET BOARD . Your modus operandi aint going to work .

Like I stated previously , I have struck a nerve . I have been in this Forum since January 2nd. 2003 , stating more or less the same things , with nary a response from you until very recently .

It would be nice if the ICC send a fact finding Committee to rein in its Rogue Member , the WICB WHICH IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO ITSELF & THE REGION .

In reply to POINT

The ICC? The International Cricket Cabal?

In reply to spider

Yes the International Cricket Cabal , I want to see if they have the testicular fortitude
to do what is right for the Region .

WE will find out if they are interested in
restoring the rich Heritage of West Indies Cricket that has been destroyed by those
who have occupied the governance of Cricket in the Region for many years .

In reply to Kurt

Most of these posts are longer than the article. Oh boy

In reply to Commie

I am highly impressed with your arguments on this thread. Kudos


Back to practicing my guitar

I perceive a circling of the Waggons by the
WICB's Apologists in this Forum , I am reminded of the adage :

" BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER "

It is really interesting , that the Presidents of the the WICB are powerless unless he has the green light from his Bosses ; who are first among equals ; the
Presidents of the Regional Boards .

This is why the hysteria about removing
Cameron , is hilarious , he was only doing as he was instructed by his Bosses . Courtesy has mounted a vigorous campaign for the removal of Cameron .

I have no idea whether Courtesy is trying to deflect responsibility from those who wield the most power in the WICB .

However , my perspective is that as currently structured , Cameron could not have acted on his own . Especially when consideration is given to the fact that
Cameron was selected to be the President of the WICB . Those who selected him , fingerprints are also on the decision to
cancel the Tour to India .

Courtesy & Commie aint going to say a word
about the fact that the Patterson Report &
the Wilkin Report . The lust for Power & also maintain Power is a very powerful Drug . I guess Commie is going to also put this down to my emotions , in a vain attempt to obfuscate the issues .

The modus Operandi is Crystal Clear , do nothing to make our Players full competitive , by saying that it has no money .

When our Players fail particularly in the longer versions of the game , the
Propaganda Machinery of the WICB kicks into high gear , we are then bombarded by a host of articles skewering the Players , in the Media & in this Forum .

While nary a mention is made of the fact that our Players play less Cricket in all versions of the game than their counterparts on Teams ranked above our Team .

Brevity is the soul of wit -William Shakespeare, Hamlet

We should never lose sight of that point!

I love covering all the bases , that way
my Critics are overwhelmed by being unable
to supply Truthful answers . Currently , none of the Apologists has to the fact , that it took the Task Force selected by the
WICB TO TELL THE WICB THAT THE PLAYERS

MUST GET THEIR CONTRACTS IN A TIMELY MANNER

WHY IS IT THAT THE TASK FORCE HAD TO TELL

THE WICB THIS ????


YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT THE PEOPLE IN

THE WICB DID NOT KNOW THAT THE PLAYERS

MUST GET THEIR CONTRACTS IN A TIMELY

MANNER????



OBVIOUSLY THIS SIGNIFIES THAT THE WICB

AMONG ITS MANY FLAWS HAS POOR BUSINESS

ACUMEN .

I am awaiting the WICB's Spin Doctor , Commie, to supply an answer . I figure that by now he has been briefed regarding this Matter .