Message Board Archives

"As it is, the contemporary West Indies have fallen so far from their once proud position at the head of Test cricket’s table that Sri Lanka Cricket’s interim committee fears it will take a loss on the schedule."

ON their four previous tours of Sri Lanka, the West Indies have been blighted by one setback or another. The fifth is following the pattern.

The latest team arrived in Colombo last weekend, underprepared after four months confined to Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20s but without any first-class or 50-overs cricket since the two Tests against Australia in June.

Two days before leaving for Colombo, the young, largely inexperienced squad, under 23-year-old Jason Holder as the new captain, was sidetracked by the suspension of head coach Phil Simmons by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and his withdrawal from the tour for his public allegations of “outside interference” in the selection of the ODI team.On arrival they were confronted by the seasonal monsoon rains that kept them indoors for much of their early practice and training. It was not unusual for October; the average rainfall for the month is 369 millimetres, just short of May, the wettest at 382 millimetres.

Full Story

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

A entertaining article, but the WI team was not good whilst Lara was in the team anyway, how many series did they win during his time as captain? The WI will be worst now because of the rebuilding process. I think the rebuilding process is too aggressive as I think some more experience players should have been included in the team, for example Johnson for Chandrika.

In reply to dayne

Lara was star power……..people pay to see stars in action, be it the movies or sports


Most of the Lara era was also a building process, but Lara was a star – so the economics was not a concern

I think the WICB just screwed up big time – they could have reprimanded Simmons – show their displeasure quietly, and let the coach be with the team……….God knows that the WICB have had their share of screw-ups – and without consequence to the board……Simmons’ presence could have been an attraction, knowing his positive impact on the Irish team

In reply to birdseye
Good points of view, I think the WI Board drops more catches than the Team on the field also, they mis-handled the Simmonds incident like they mis-handled the Indian tour incident. The Board is loaded with men of big egos and lots of insecurities. But, I agree with the opinion that the Team lacks Star attraction and that is another oversight of the Selectors at the moment, they are not thinking about the fans. That's why I agree with Lloyd and Simmonds that both Bravo and Pollard should have been included in the Team, I would have picked them for the Test team also.

WI not the same since....the members of the glory team retired

WI lost almost everything when Lara was around

What ole Cozy trying deh?

In reply to Narper

Not sure what your point is – that Lara wasn’t great…..or that a one great player should be able to overcome and dominate teams of eleven players ranging from good to great.

In reply to birdseye

That's the point... at the end of the day cricket is a team sport and people want to see their team win. If wins could be guaranteed without Lara in the lineup wouldn't you take that over Lara bashing century after century in losing efforts?

In reply to Kay

And you saying we had that option, but we choose to go with a star player instead?.....Mnnnnn------interesting

In reply to Kay

Windies had more wins with Lara in the line-up despite some poor results. It is worse today..In fact Windies back then had a player with the potential to positively change the direction of the game and sometimes he did..

Anyway it seems Windies will not produce another Lara for some time.

.

In reply to problemjay

Anybody who can remember that 1999 Aussie Vs WI series in the Caribbean and still do not understand Lara’s contribution to cricket, not just WI cricket…..is suffering some serious denial

just in case you forget

In reply to birdseye


That was one of his most influential innings!

In reply to birdseye

Leff dem - they een even understand di article.

In reply to birdseye

Look Selecting a Squad mainly of Young Players , is simply a Ploy buy the WICBC , to buy time .

Everyone knows that the hope of winning matches is slim , WE are once
again being told that WE must wait another 5 years to see progress .Then this same scenario will happen after
the 5 years .

This they have been telling us for over a freaking decade . As I have stated many times in this Forum the
People in the WICBC are only doing what they think will save their Hides .

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS TO THIS LOT .

The Regional Governments need to see through their Charade . Something must be done . Things just cannot drift along like this .

Let me once again state a freaking fact , Bangladesh & Zimbabwe have progressed in the longer versions of the game while WE have regressed .