West Indies fast-bowling legend Michael Holding says the structure of cricket in the region is failing its players. He has also called for more transparency from the region's governing body, Cricket West Indies (CWI), about its financial affairs.
Holding, who was a guest on the Antigua and Barbuda-based Good Morning Jojo Sports Talk Show recently, says players across the region are opting for more lucrative opportunities in Twenty20 (T20) cricket leagues around the world instead of representing the West Indies because of the problems that exist within the structure of the game in the region.
"I think the system has failed," he said. "I don't know about the talent in the team right now. I wouldn't be able to tell you that the talent is what you'd like, but I know that the talent in the Caribbean has not faded. There's no way you can lose talent. It just doesn't disappear. But the system that we have now just doesn't bring that talent through, in my opinion, and also because of the fact that there's so much other T20 cricket going on around the world, where guys can earn a lot of money, so they disappear in that direction."
Holding, who has always been known as a critic of T20 cricket, recalls being disappointed to see how many players he considered of high talent playing for other teams while the Windies was touring at the same time.
"I don't watch West Indies cricket a lot now, I keep on telling people, I go on ESPN and I check the score, but I don't watch it," he said. "But I remember a tour of Australia some years ago where we had about nine cricketers playing the Big Bash (Australian T20 league) when West Indies was on tour there. None of them played for the West Indies, but they were in the Big Bash earning big money.
CLINICAL JAMAICA defeated Barbados by 56 runs to complete the double in the Rising Stars Under-19 Championship.
On a tense final day of the three-day final at Arnos Vale Stadium yesterday, Jamaica recovered after being bundled out for 87 in their second innings to send Barbados tumbling for 142 all out, with 10 balls remaining.
Leg-spinner Tamarie Redwood led the champions with four for 47 to end with a seven-wicket match haul while seamer Raneico Edwards supported well with three for 31.
Joshua Dorne top-scored with 34, opener Zion Brathwaite got 28, while Nimar Bolden and Nathan Sealy both struck 23 but Barbados never seriously challenged their victory target of 199, after losing their key top order batsmen.
“It’s a feeling I can’t describe. I’m totally elated,” said Jamaica head coach Terrence Corke.
“We have not won this in 10 years, so it’s good to get the double now. The last time we won the double was [2009] and now we’re winning it away from home. That’s a plus for us.”
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – On Tuesday 25 July 2023, the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, through the Faculty of Sport, held the 22nd Annual Frank Worrell Memorial Lecture, presented by the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, under the title; ‘Cricket Lovely Cricket: It Is more than Bat and Ball.’
During her lecture, Prime Minister Mottley commended Cricket West Indies (CWI) President, Dr. Kishore Shallow for his necessary, immediate, and transformational interventions to address the inequalities between men and women cricket.
Understanding the significance of Caribbean leaders to the development of cricket, it was noted that President Shallow, during his stakeholder engagement prior to assuming office, met with Prime Minister Mottley, to garner her perspective on the future of West Indies Cricket, and concerns pertaining to women’s cricket were highlighted.
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Senior Men’s Selection Panel today announced the provisional squad for the five-match Kuhl Stylish Fans T20I Series powered by Black and White against India which starts on Thursday 3 August at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
All 15 members of the provisional squad will travel to all matches. There will then be a 13-member squad for each match from which the final XI will be selected.
Wicket-keeper/batsman Shai Hope, and fast bowler Oshane Thomas have earned recalls to this format. Thomas played his last match in this format in Pakistan in December 2021 while Hope played his last match in India in February 2022.
Lead Selector, The Most Hon. Dr Desmond Haynes said: “The squad is selected with the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in mind. We are looking at various plans as we try to find the right combinations. As we prepare; we are looking to build a unit which we believe can do the job when we host the global event in just under a year. We have some match-winners in our line-up and we will look to have the right kind of preparation, starting here in Trinidad on Thursday.”
IS WEST Indies cricket in decline an adequate explanation of the relative performances of the West Indies teams over the past two-plus decades?
Is it not also important to factor in the improvements and other changes that have been occurring in other countries?
For example, while, decades ago, India used to open its bowling attack with spinners, it now has an overabundance of excellent fast bowlers and, along with that, batters who are now competent not only against spin but also fast bowling. Further, so have the strengths of the Indian economy and, with that growth, the increased availability of resources for needed cricket.
So, what is the state of WI cricket? The Jamaica Observer, in its July 1, 2023 editorial, stated: “The harsh truth, as voiced by West Indies head … Mr Daren Sammy, is that the loss to the Netherlands reflected the state of West Indies cricket”. Is this an appropriate assessment given the data reported in the table below, or is it an emotional reaction? While this table does not report on the performances of the WI teams in ICC tournaments, it also does not indicate that the WI teams’ recent poor performances in ICC tournaments are good reflections of ‘the state of West Indies cricket’.
