CURTLY Ambrose is running the spell check over his autobio­graphy. We’re aware of the completed manuscript because his ghost writer has contacted The Australian in hot pursuit of Steve Waugh’s mobile number. Ambrose wants to get on the blower and ask for Waugh’s penmanship to provide the forward to his memoir. We’re unsure whether Waugh will be more accommodating of Ambrose in retirement than he was as a cantankerous player.

A timeless photograph will feature in Ambrose’s tome. He should whack it on the cover. The photo illustrates the Waugh-­Ambrose confrontation at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad in 1995. The F-bombs. Waugh’s small, squinting eyes. Ambrose’s big eyes. The intervention of Richie Richardson. Those were the days, eh?

In reply to JOJO

I keep asking myself the same question, why would you take the nuclear option against India?

In reply to Ninetenjack

Maybe they were fed up?

As someone said earlier, do you think completing the tour and coming back to bargain would have been as effective in putting this discussion in the open? They were told, with strike action looming, to buzz off-the deal is done.

In reply to Ninetenjack

I hope you realize that it is the WICB that took the nuclear option. The players begged for reconciliation but the Board thought otherwise.
Like the present attitude of the BCCI to the WICB so was the past attitude of the WICB to the players.
The difference being that the BCCI had a signed contract with the WICB. Thats how competent organizations run their business.

In reply to Ninetenjack

why didn't the wicb give them what was owed to them and treat them fairly?

hit wicb where it hurts them most, their pocket

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Those in the governance of Cricket should have realized decades ago that they needed
to undergo a complete restructuring of Cricket in the Region .

They did not do a blasted thing . jst as they did in the mid 1980's when England imposed a ban on ALL OVERSEAS PLAYERS .It is this ban that started the slow downward spiraling of our Players & Team .

The ban , in my opinion affected our Players moreso than Players in other Countries . Essentially the ban reduced the status of our Players from being fulltime Cricketers , to being Part time Cricketers .

When they played Cricket in England , their skills were sharp in all facets of the game ; so obviously when they represented the Region they were as competitive as their counterparts in other Countries . ALL THIS came to an abrupt end
with the imposition .

I am firmly of the opinion that the ban was aimed mainly at our Players ; who at that juncture were the best Players in the World . The Players from other Countries , who were also banned were merely collateral damage . People need to understand that Cricket is also played off the Field .

Cricket History informs US ALL, that when it was decided to institute the 1 Bouncer
per over Rule ; WE had the fastest bowlers
in the World . That was not an accident , that was another example of Cricket being played off the Field .

But I digressed , from a logical perspective , it was reasonable to expect that those in the governance of Cricket at the imposition of the Ban would make strenuous efforts to assist our Players maintaining their skills at a high level .

OUR PLAYERS & TEAM were the best in the World ; therefore it would not have been difficult to get Sponsors for a Regional Pro or even Semi Pro League .


THOSE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF CRICKET IN THE

REGION DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING . TANGIBLY

DEMONSTRATING THEIR LACK OF FORESIGHT

& VISION . ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS BEING

IN THE GOVERNANCE OF CRICKET FOREVER .

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS TO THEM .


This is precisely why we are where we are , and those in the governance of Cricket in a Crisis . They are still clinging to the power they have . Let me again cite
this phrase :

" POWER CORRUPTS , AND ABSOLUTE POWER

CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY "

In reply to Controversy

In reply to POINT

I think as well POINT that those who were in charge of cricket in the region deceived themselves into thinking that they did not need our players to play overseas to continue the dominance in the world. They had somehow, in addition to being bungling in the administration, deluded themselves into thinking that the great players would keep being produced WITHOUT ANY PROPER PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE for them to continue PROFESSIONAL development.

So this pattern continued throughout the nineties even though the rot had set in and the reason was palpably obvious to all and sundry. This is where greed and incompetence were matched in that unholy union. Men were just reaping profits from cricket while the cricket was slowly declining into irrelevance. As long as we had Walsh and Ambi and Lara, we were competitive and bottoms were in the seats. But they failed to see the little pockets of smoke in the forest telling of the oncoming conflagration. So when Ambi left, and we had just Walsh, and then Walsh left and that was it, there was no succession plan in place.

The fiddling continued even though the place was now on fire. Then Lara left and the main cash draw disappeared. After that...STILL NOTHING FROM THEM! They were just caught napping and the rest of the world just flew past them. Academies were springing up around the world. Professional retainer contracts and leagues were being REFORMED (NOT MERELY ESTABLISHED BUT REFORMED AND MODERNIZED). We were still learning to tread water in the kiddy pool. Yet the fiddling continued.

So here we are today. About to be booted out of the game we helped to popularize all because our administrators failed to do their jobs and took so much for granted.

In reply to cricketmad

Dem dont know that brings non payments of sakaries after debtors collect. WICB have any loans?

In reply to POINT



The most insightful and concise analysis I have seen on the dilemma now faced by West Indian cricket. I sincerely hope that if you are addressing the WICB that you are not casting pearls at swine. They should know: It's All Over Now.

In reply to dale_staple

You are absolutely correct . You see , when our Players played Cricket in England they quickly learned what being a Professional
Cricketer means .

I once heard an interview with Sobers , in the interview , he stated that the County Officials would tell them the time they are expected to be at the Ground . Players have to find their own way to the ground .

Playing Cricket in England is very helpful , to our Players , batsmen learn to middle the ball which moves about in the air and off the Pitches . Bowlers learn art of making the ball swing .

The Physical & Mental Stamina of Players increases , by playing a lot of Cricket . so also is their ability to concentrate for long periods ; and learning how to pace an Innings .

Many people in the Region including those in the governance of Cricket have yet to come to the realization that when there was only one format of the game ; Our Players played many matches before and in between the Test Matches . Including playing more than half of the English Counties .This meant that
all facets of their game were operating at
maximum .

The introduction of the shortest version of the game made Tours truncated ; it also meant that Players had to be ready from day One . This in my opinion adversely affects our Players , who play less Cricket than their counterparts whose Teams are ranked above our Players .

The to add insult to injury , the WICB believes in having a 1 week Camp . Our Players cannot operate in a competitive mode under these circumstances . However the WICB has failed to understand this problem and address it properly .

In reply to POINT

Our administrators were ill prepared to run a modern cricket game. People like Wes Hall et al know cricket but were poor administrators. People like Hunte and Cameron may be good businessmen but have no clue about cricket. Neither set of men had any proper advisors and if they did, they failed to use them.

In reply to dale_staple

Actually the businessmen are best equiped to run the organization but they are running it like most things are run the the region semi dictatorial.
Owners of sports franchises worldwide are mainly megarich businessmen but they vet their managers, Veeps, etc to ensure they are well versed/experienced in what they do to run things with little to no interference. The WICB needs to do the same.

In reply to Scar

You cannot run it exactly as you would run a business Scar. Your workers (the Players) are not the same as workers in an ordinary business. That is the mistake these guys are making. Look at owners of franchises and see the difference in how the successful franchises are run by owners.

In reply to dale_staple Whoch is why they should hire Sports management experienced people regardless of origin to run things. You dont need to have played the game to run a sports franchise.
The only thong being disputed is monetary worth and businessmen know how to apportion that via market comparison/structures. The WI board doesnt seem to ignore the other asoects necessary for cricket, hiring coaches, trsiners etc they are contentious about money. Lest we forget major better run franchises have had their strikes too over similar issues. WI need to go to a closer to 50/50 revenue structure (for all players) as they have done that would eliminate a lot of these problems.

In reply to watchman

Thanks for your support , Like I said in this Forum a couple of days ago ; more Cricket is played off the Field than on the Field .

Why is it that suddenly Sunil Narine is now said to have an illegal action , when he has been playing cricket without being called .
Very few if any Cricket playing Countries can come to the table with clean hands .

In reply to dale_staple

You have hit the jackpot in your assessment .

In reply to Scar

I hear what you are saying , but you are forgetting the fact that those in the governance of Cricket in the Region ,DO NOT WANT TO GIVE UP AN INCH OF THEIR POWER .

This is precisely why they have deep sixed
ALL THE REPORTS THEY COMMISSIONED . Frankly
these Reports were only commissioned to soothe those of us who were and are restless .

I am sure that you have noticed in the current Crisis , they have once again commissioned certain persons to investigate what happen regarding the Indian Tour . This is their attempt to let things cool down , and then take action against the Players .

If & when that happens , Becca ; Cozier et al are going to be let loose to criticize the Players , because those in the governance of Cricket in the Region are Omnipotent .

In reply to eric365

In reply to Scar

First of all WE ned to recognize the fact that :

THE PRESIDENT OF THE WICB IS POWERLESS

IF HE DOES NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE

REGIONAL BOARDS PRESIDENTS . THEY ARE THE

PERSONS WHO SELECTED HIM .

It is quite possible that the WICB may have had well meaning Presidents , but they fell by the wayside ,because they were not supported by those wo appointed them .

This is but one of the many flaws in the current structure of the WICB , who ultimately has power . Now if the WICB President had executive power , he could do things on his own , but that aint the case ; and I seriously doubt that the Regional Boards Presidents are ever going to give up their power ; even if it would be for the betterment of Cricket in the Region .