West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards has described the current crop of Test batsmen as timid following the recently concluded debacle in New Zealand where the team lost by an innings in each of the two Tests.

For two decades, Sir Vivian, one of the greatest batsmen of all time, destroyed bowling attacks across the globe, plundering 8540 runs in 121 Tests. The nature of his dominance was such that he once held the world record for the fastest-ever Test century, getting to the hallowed milestone from just 56 balls. It is against this background that his criticism of the current crop of West Indies batsmen is seen as telling. 

Of note, is that no West Indies batsman in four innings cumulatively managed to score more runs than Williamson’s score in the first Test. Jermaine Blackwood, who scored a century and a half-century over the two Tests came closest with 216 runs.

“We are struggling to play the short ball, and we look like the individuals we used to deal with. We are looking very timid and West Indians over the years have always been part of that destructive force when it comes to playing fast bowling,” said Sir Vivian.

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In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Truer words have never been spoken

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
this coming from a real alpha male cricketer a man who batted without a helmet against the fastest bowlers in the world at that time.modern wi batsmen look like dear in headlights against fast bowling they can't hook can't play short pitched bowling just sitting back and being dominated.gayle is probally the last batsman who really took it to the opposition in test cricket for the wi

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

So true we need more Viv-like batsmen, all these batsmen wasting time at the crease pushing, blocking, defending until they are either caught at slips (no puns intended) or out LBW. I am not saying that batsmen should bat carelessly and give away their wickets but at times, our batsmen need to fearlessly go after opposition bowlers while batting intelligently.

It’s no secret as to why one batsman has topped WI batting for the last two series, that’s because he has adopted the Viv-like approach to his batting, very risky at times, but other times very exciting with freedom to play his shots without been hamper down by opposing bowlers.

In reply to Slipfeeler

Excellently put. When i see NZ Batsmen not scoring against quicks, i think they're playing the bowling on its merit. When I see the WI not scoring against the quicks, i think im watching a walking wicket. They don't even attack the bad balls

the fans want batsmen that play proper shots, even though they cant make runs!

In reply to Jumpstart

Absolutely, it’s almost non-West Indian not to put away the bad balls then cowering when faced with the good balls. WI batsmen back in the days were feared by bowlers around the world.

In reply to Slipfeeler

I dunno where the cowardice came from. Even as i grew up in the 2000s, WI batsmen were not dismissed by fear of pace bowling. Its either they gave their wickets away(majority) or they were undone by very good balls. This is the first time I've seen WI batsmen cowering at pace bowling. Its very, very strange

In reply to Jumpstart
and the current bowlers WI batsmen went up against are not of frightening pace, probably with the exception of Wagner.On the tour to England speed was a factor but in NZ it was approach and technique.

In reply to camos

Wagner is only as quick as peak mcgrath and much shorter.....that's what makes it strange

In reply to JumpstartJamieson was going through our batting, like hot knife on butter!

Well Viv made some valid points, but the current WI batsmen are being undone by swing bowling and not express fast bowling.

He has been saying it for years.
Right after he retired, he played in a chancellor match, with a number of up and coming cricketers, Ryan Hinds was part of the squad.
Viv said after the match,"We are becoming a group of survivors".
I've quoted him every since then.

In reply to dayne

So what could be done to help our batsmen counter swing bowlers?
I know that they will have to bat outside of their creases to counteract the swing and their timing has to be impeccable.

In reply to Slipfeeler
Balance and movement.
I saw Everton Weekes batting on a rain effected wicket, against one of Barbados best swing bowler, Denis Atkinson.
Atkinson was bowling to him with, 2 slips, gully, silly mid off, silly mid on, 2 forward short legs.
I will never forget one shot, that made his opponents, stand and clap, it was a split glance, between the two forward short legs.
Guys think of a gymnast doing the split, that will tell you about movement, getting that left leg as far as he could push it, with wrist and timing.
I've written many times, about Viv, facing T&T mystery spinner, it was like a lion watching his prey.
A number of our batsman get stuck in the crease, because the weight is on the left foot.

In reply to openning

That’s because we elevated obduracy over art and aggression.

Look at obviously talented batsmen like Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Brooks who barely get the ball off the square. They bat timidly in the mistaken mindset that they’re “building an innings”

Poke, poke, poke, leave alone, repeat.

That’s not batting. And your boy......who has a talent for the poking business, is hailed as “one of our best batsmen”

CRAZY! Viv watches them and shakes his head in disgust

Meanwhile.....players like Xavier Marshall, Ricardo Powell, Keiron Pollard, Andre Russell, Jermaine Blackwood, Shimron Hetmeyer etc get abuse for playing positively.

Even Carl Hooper....as graceful and attractive a player as there is, got derision from fans and media alike.

In reply to openning

Can you please regale us of your experiences with Viv facing Chandrasekhar and how the lion fared?

Thanks

In reply to imusic
I have no memory of Viv facing Chandrasekhar, I do remember calling QPO and my Antiguan friend doing the same, just see how Viv was batting against him.
Between lunch and tea, Viv was just eyeing him, after tea all hell broke loose.

In reply to openning

According to Viv, it was also traumatic for him

In reply to dayne

Thanks for making that subtle distinction - everyone screaming about our batsmen can't bat and should be dropped. But if our players are not skilled enough to play swing bowling for extended periods then we know the result. It's an art!
Our batsmen can play fast bowlers that are swinging comfortably as long as they choose not to give they hands away.
Our players were better than the last tour of NZ.

In reply to imusic
I would like to know of the second, third and fourth meeting.

In reply to imusic

yeah....there's a viv documentary by Darcus Howe on youtube where viv said facing chandrasekar was nightmares in his first test

In reply to imusic

well hooper got abused for woeful inconsistency. The guy should have averaged 80 and his avg never got above 40....for the enormous talent the lord blessed him with, that's unacceptable

Have been saying this for a longtime now. Bunch of cowards letting up and down medium fast bowlers scare them with short balls. They out before they even get to the wicket.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Too busy slurping Batsmen from other countries and criticizing your own. This doesn't surprise me. I don't care how good you were back in your day, still, Buck Dancing as usual.

In reply to imusic

He meant Harold Joseph. First ball, Viv got beaten. After that it was mayhem

In reply to imusic

I admire your clarity of thought this morning. I would have omitted the last paragraph but that is minor.

Timidity can win WI Regional cricket but it will not get you much further.

In reply to VoopsandOut

Yeah...I know it was Harry Joe he was referring to.

When he was "on"...he was virtually unplayable. More often than not tho.....he was definitely not "on"

Besides.....he loved him some ponies more than he liked cricket. Went Australia with the WI team and spend more time at the track than in the nets

Another "mercurial" one was Inshan Ali. Even "weirder" because he was a left arm chinaman and googly bowler. It was a sight to see him in action when he was "on"

My memories of Chandrasekhar, bowling in long sleeves, people said he had some arm deformity from Polio as a child, he could be erratic but if he settled down he is getting 5-6 wickets.