Dissolve The Old Boys' Club

Will Brian Lara's record-breaking 400 not out bring about much-needed change to the administration of West Indies cricket? While the critics and armchair specialists of the rumshop variety mouth their opinions, the persons responsible for setting policy at the highest level, have been lacking in the fulfilment of their responsibilities.

Lara, on numerous occasions have called for a rethinking of the management of the regional game. While the rest of the cricketing world have sought and have succeeded in putting policies and programmes in place, the West Indies have relied on the success of the teams of the Lloyd and Richards eras.

Speaking to Lara just after the toss of the coin at St. Lucia?s inaugural hosting of a test match, Lara told me that he was not interested in records. ?A record is something good to have but if it will not bring pride to West Indies cricket then it is of no use.?

On the question of rebuilding, he said that a squad of young aggressive cricketers have to be found as the nucleus of the team, and take it from there on. ?If we can have a squad of young aggressive players and everybody do what they have to do and do it right in the interest of West Indies cricket, we will return to being number one very soon.?

For years we have been hearing of the rebuilding of West Indies cricket, and that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has turned a new leaf. It makes no sense to revisit the many administrative atrocities committed by the WICB and its predecessor, the WICBC. What is of importance now is that the directors of the WICB become accountable to the people of the Caribbean ? ?either by the hook or by the crook? as the saying goes.

The WICB should have had as policy a minimum period of three-months training for all regional representative teams preparing for international engagements. Additionally, teams preparing to participate in regional competitions should have a minimum of six to eight weeks? preparation, and other teams such as those of the individual islands of the OECS and district or zonal teams of the bigger territories, 4 ? 6 weeks.

That policy should be distinct with clear cut guidelines on the areas to be covered, for example nutrition, strength training, mental application, strategy, use of the ball for seam and swing bowling, forging of team spirit and the history of West Indies cricket.

By implementing such a policy of preparation, all players vying for selection at the local, national and regional levels would have had adequate preparation, and the selectors in a position to identify the areas that are in need of additional work.

How can we talk of regaining lost ground when the preparation of the West Indies test and one-day teams has been inadequate with one or two week preparation? How can the players adequately cope with the pressures of international sports in the 21st century with two-week preparation camps?

The West Indies made a name for itself not just because of the talent and quality of players, but through the radical and aggressive nature of its cricket, nurtured through years of playing on the backstreets, beaches and backyards of the cities, towns and villages of the English-speaking Caribbean.

Now we have resorted to playing cricket the English way, while the English are using the aggressive tactics perfected by the teams of the Lloyd and Richards eras to humiliate us. Can we regain the lost ground? The answer is yes, but the measures must be radical and will be painful to the old boys? club.

To erase the administrative problems that have been encountered in the management of West Indies test and one-day teams in recent years, Sir Viv Richards should be appointed as the Manager. He along with the Chief Executive Officer and other officers of the WICB Secretariat, peruse and appoint the management team of the test and one-day squad.

This would make Richards the man in charge, answerable and accountable for the disciplining and selection of teams along with rest of his staff. The bottom line is that the buck stops with him, with full responsibility for the preparation and management of the camps and teams on tour.

The aim is that between now and the 2007 Cricket World Cup, we must regain at least 75-percent of glory lost these past ten years. The first goal is to recapture the Wisden Trophy by all means possible as the top priority. Then series victories against South Africa and Pakistan at home in 2005, and the retaking of the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy ten years after it was surrendered to Australia.

Meanwhile, the preparation of teams for participation in the Red Stripe Bowl and Carib Cup has to be radicalised. This would mean a restructuring of the National Cricket Associations and by extension the WICB, and the dissolution of the boys? club that continues to hinder the development of West Indies cricket.

If one needs an example of this, then a hard look has to be directed at the administration of cricket in St. Lucia. Many of the old boys are against a merger of the St. Lucia National Cricket Association and the St. Lucia National Women?s Cricket Association. So bent are they in their ways that instead of working constructively to revive cricket and contribute meaningfully to the development of West Indies cricket, they seek to protect their turf.

The question must be asked: ?Is there is a de facto president of the St. Lucia National Cricket Association?? Are there elements within the said organisation that would want history to remember them as having served for many years on the executive of the St. Lucia National Cricket Association, as their contribution to the development of West Indies cricket?

There is a saying that a chain is as strong as its weakest link, and the weak link in West Indies cricket is administration, and the weak link in the administrative chain is St. Lucia. While executive officers of the SLNCA have found fault with the captaincy of Brian Lara, they have failed to prepared and implement programmes that would result in a new cricket page being turned over.

St. Lucia lacks a proper developmental programme, Under-15 cricket is being managed by the Department of Youth and Sports instead of by the St. Lucia National Cricket Association, coaching at the district and national levels leave much to be desired, the national senior and Under-19 competitions are being administered ad hoc, the Beausejour Cricket Ground is now being managed as money making chicken instead of as a tool for cricket development, and many executive officers have been found to be wanting in the execution of their duties.

In fact, these dormant executive officers and their cronies have developed the knack of coming out of hibernation when St. Lucia is hosting regional or international fixtures.

In one-way or another, the affiliates of the WICB suffer from one malady or another found in the St. Lucia cricketing body. How can a group of persons be elected by a select group and there is very little accountability? For there to be accountability, there needs to be at least five non-executive members from the member associations to attend, participate and vote at general meetings of the West Indies Cricket Board Inc.

This would break up the old boys? club, reduce the nasty behind the scenes wheeling and dealing, and bring about greater transparency to the administration of West Indies cricket.

Unless Brian Lara?s 400 not out be taken as evidence that though West Indies cricket may be down and out, by goal setting and personal sacrifice, the fortunes of the regional game can be elevated. However, unless the radical over-hauling of the regional game?s administration is not carried out now, the old boys? club will destroy all pride, and the West Indian peoples for the continued failures of the regional side will find scapegoats.

* Robertson S. Henry is sports editor of The VOICE newspaper in St Lucia.