Sir Garfield Sobers is asked about the sorry state of cricket in the West Indies and serves up a really interesting answer…

“People have been asking me this question for a long time now,” he said. “And yes, West Indies cricket is not at its best. That’s the least I can say. But the idea that youngsters are playing basketball and baseball … you know, Richie Benaud started that rumour some time ago and I’d like to stand up and put it to rest.

“People make a mistake saying there is not a lot of cricket being played in the West Indies today. In fact, there is more than ever before. When I was a boy growing up, you either played for Barbados or you played for West Indies. Today we have an Under-13s, who recently came to England and won the tournament. We also have Under-15s, Under 18s, an A team, so where do we get all these cricketers from without playing cricket? It’s a myth. And if you look at the American basketball scene, can you name me two West Indian players?

“Baseball, we know nothing about baseball. Soccer, yes. Over the last 15 years lots of soccer players have come to play in England. If someone said to me that soccer is the reason for West Indian cricket falling so low I might think about it. But the real problem, ladies and gentlemen, and it is a problem for sport around the world, is television.

“I have two boys, both very good cricketers with all the attributes, but they never wanted to play because I was their father. You know, a great friend of mine played a long time ago for Worcester. He was called Ron Headley but nobody really knew his name, because whenever he was introduced it was as [the great West Indian batsman] George Headley’s son. My kids wanted their own identity, and I understand that. But they also wanted to watch TV.

“When they got home from school they would not go outside and play, they would sit in front of a video. That’s your real culprit. Kids do not organise games of cricket by themselves, playing outside morning, noon and night. Today, if it is not organised, nobody leaves home. They wait for you to pick them up, take them to the ground, give them the best cricket attire. The natural flow of the game has gone.”

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