West Indies chief selector Clive Lloyd has criticised the shortage of warm-up games on the current tour of South Africa, and says modern-day itineraries left little room for player development.

Lloyd, the outstanding former captain of the 1970s and 80s, was speaking ahead of Wednesday’s start of the opening Test, following the only warm-up match of the three-Test series. “I’ve always wanted two four-day games in the tour. I’ve said that to the West Indies and the ICC. I think one game is not enough,” Lloyd told reporters.

West Indies last week faced a South Africa Invitational XI in a three-day game, their only chance at match preparation for the series. Even then, rain washed out Friday’s final day, leaving the tourists with just two days of cricket.

With 10 teams at Test level, and a number of other teams at ODI level, not to mention the growth of the T20 game, is it even feasible to have lengthy tours, unless they're possibly of the tri-series variety?

It aint my intention to pat myself on the back , but I have been saying in this Forum for over a decade that our Players need a minimum of two weeks for a Camp before International encounters .

My reason for stating this is due to the fact that : OUR PLAYERS PLAY LESS CRICKET

THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS ON TEAMS RANKED

ABOVE OUR TEAM .


Lloyd , is correct in his assessment , it is the introduction into the game of the third format that has placed our Players as a distinct disadvantage . Since the Countries ranked above our Team have for decades apart from International matches ,
have League ; State , County , & Zone Cricket .

Obviously these many matches , harness ,
enhance & hone the abilities of their Players in all Formats of the game . In the Region we have just started with having a League .

As I have stated very often in this Forum , the difference between the number of matches our Players have played , in all formats of the game , in comparison to their International opponents is very stark .
It is very unfortunate that those in the Region refuse to understand & remedy this
fact . I hope that they will now heed Lloyd's advice . But I aint about to hold my breath .

In reply to Tryangle

I don't think Lloyd is alluding to lengthening tours, but rather making use of the available extra days on tour.

And yes, its more feasible than you think...between the warm-up match (Wed Dec 10 - Fri Dec 12)and the 1st Test there are 4 wasted days, well, make it 5.

It's been raining nonstop in SA since November.Finding any game time in SA would have been troublematic

In reply to Discourse

The great Eras of West Indies Cricket happened because of the following Factors .
1. there was mainly only one format of the game . When eg our Team Toured England there were many matches before & in between the Test Matches .

Most of Our Players played Cricket in England ; this enhanced , harnessed & honed their skills in all facets of the game . They were accustomed to playing in cold weather ; and the conditions of the Pitches .

They knew what is entailed in being a Professional Cricketer . Essentially they were Full Time Cricketers . As I have
stated regularly in this Forum . The ban
by England turned our Players from being Full time Cricketers to being Part time
Cricketers .

Obviously this change dulled their skills over time , and currently they are not as sharp as they can & should be . This is why I have stated in this Forum that people need to look at the stats of Players on Teams ranked above our Team , and compare their stats to our Players stats . the difference is very stark .