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West Indies cricket has become a morbid curiosity for many, like sneaking a peek while passing by a bad car accident.

Years ago we invited England “A” into our four-day tournament to expose our players against professionals under competitive conditions. The backlash was harsh, misinterpreted as being beneficial only to England who, with their vast resources, hardly needed our help. On the contrary, our declining standards and diminishing sponsorships did. A cricket icon's e-mail scathingly castigated us to“go back to the 1970 format”. My playful, much-regretted response was that he couldn't send that e-mail in 1970.

The point that times had changed was entirely lost due to my stupid quip and his verbal “bumper barrage” taught me never to be cavalier with those who had shed their blood on the field. So here we are again passing by this much-admired, but long-suffering, accident of history that is WI cricket. But this time around, the 'metaverse', 'cryptocurrency' and the novel coronavirus pandemic have all reinforced the need for revolutionary thinking. Perhaps that could include an honest look at Jamaica and other territories going it alone in Twenty20 cricket.

Before heads explode, hear me out. Sixteen associate nations now compete for six World Cup spots. These pretenders strut on TV before billions, sharing revenues in the millions. But why does Oman or Papua New Guinea deserve such privilege when Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda, etcetera, produced the greatest cricketers the world has ever seen?

So let us reimagine, with the Caribbean allocated four out of an increased 20 associates vying for those six spots. Imagine renewed life into Jamaica vs Trinidad & Tobago, or St Kitts & Nevis inspired to topple mighty Barbados, with T20 World Cup play-off places at stake. Antigua & Barbuda for the Commonwealth Games garnered more resources than the indistinct “Leeward Islands” ever could.

Surely, Jamaica can compete with Oman and the potentially overall positive impact on WI cricket is worth exploring. Injecting new life into the sport at the national level is needed and maybe this is the solution that franchise cricket has not yet demonstrated.

WI cricket lacks the normal backing any national team needs — a national imperative, national resources and the national pride it once enjoyed. But today's political leadership largely shun wholesale financial support for cricket, as accolades siphon to an amorphous vacuum called “the West Indies”.

Younger generations bear little resentment towards our former colonial masters, which once fuelled pride and passion for the game. Too few companies sell goods and services across the Caribbean to make a West Indies brand commercially marketable. A unified WI team is the assumed remedy we cling to for a lack of regional scale.

But grouping disparate countries is a challenge to implement development programmes, wastes resources and creates the most expensive cricket administration that happens to earn the least revenue. Toxic insularity dissipates those resources evenly among 14 countries, despite two having 75 per cent of the population.

A comparison also correlates WI cricket's decline with the global growth in sports media rights. Our exceptional talent kept us competitive when the annual revenue gap with our competitors was below US$20 million. But it became over US$300 million with TV. Our arguments at the International Cricket Council (ICC) for remodelling were dismissed, betrayed by the aberration and beatings inflicted in our days of glory. Twenty-five years failing to apply brakes to that galloping distortion and a crash was predictable.

Jamaica could plan for a T20 world championship every two years, and Olympics every four years. That's now the case with athletics, where revenues and viewership are dwarfed by staggering T20 numbers.

The next Indian Premier League deal will fetch over US$5 billion. It includes four Jamaicans today — who most would be hard-pressed to name — collectively earning US$3 million for six weeks' work. Oman and Papua New Guinea have no one in the top T20 leagues.

Olympic T20 also seems inevitable and here Jamaica has earned the right to venture alone as established Olympic royalty. What a conundrum that will be and where will Jamaica's political and cricket leadership stand?

Sure, we can enter as the West Indies umbrella, but will Jamaica be okay with the entire region allowed a limit of three entries for the women's 100 metres, when Jamaica's expectation is occupying three spots in the final itself?

If Jamaica ends up playing Barbados or the WI in a world or Olympic final, more power to us all. Scotland and Ireland both compete now against England. Eoin Morgan played for Ireland in Cricket World Cup 2007 and then captained England to victory in CWC 2019. In rugby, when the British Lions play as one team today and the next individually as England, Ireland, etcetera, no eyebrows are raised

Exceptions are made because the British are “a special case”. Well, so are we, and more. 'Calypso cricket' inspired T20 in the first place and the establishment that once decried innovative party stands like the Mound, now contrive to imitate them. With national investment at T20 level, a WI team might stand a better chance at ODI and Test levels.

Facilities, equipment, coaches and developmental resources and programmes are needed in our schools and clubs. Jamaica's cricket, comprising more than half of Cricket West Indies's (CWI) constituency, lies critically haemorrhaging roadside. A crash victim losing half its lifeblood should receive special transfusion, but such a precisioned response by CWI would draw ire.

Going alone is a taboo topic that needs mature discussion. If we ignore, we automatically cede to Oman and Papua New Guinea seats which rightfully belong to us. For all his perceived flaws, Jack Warner was brilliant in recognising that at Fifa, strength was not just in Caribbean unity, it was having more Caribbean seats at the table, and then unifying them. This conversation will feel uncomfortable, even treacherous, to beliefs we hold dear.

At first, so too did wearing a mask and buying NFTs in the metaverse. Maybe it could even hasten the demise of WI cricket. But isn't that Pinto already facing recall? Maybe we can salvage the parts and start afresh. Or do we fix our gaze, ignore the gruesome wreckage and just pass on by?

Editor's note: Chris Dehring is the former WICB Chief Marketing Executive and CEO of ICC CWC 2007. With over 30 years in the business of sports, he has negotiated multimillion-dollar TV and sports rights deals across the world, including the English Premier League, WICB and ICC events and led the Caribbean's hosting of Cricket World Cup in 2007. In 2001, he conceptualised and launched Sportsmax, the region's first 24/7 sports channel, now broadcast in 26 countries, and was an integral founder of the famous 'Mound' party stand. He represented Jamaica in both football and cricket at the under-19 level, representing Real Mona and Kingston Cricket Club in the Major League and Senior Cup, respectively.

Source: Jamaica Observer

In reply to Slipfeeler

Admin, I apologize for the long read but this is a very interesting subject matter to most WI fans throughout the entire region.

With Jamaica performing better than the WI team in recent ODI matches, might have stimulated and encouraged the "Go It Alone" enthusiasts.

In reply to Slipfeeler

soviet union broke up and now someone is trying to put it back together by force, may that be a lesson to you

In reply to Raggs

Federation broke up years ago, and now we are seeing evidences that it would not have lasted, despite our best efforts and willingness to stick together due to our colonial appendages and history, which binds us together.
When saying that, I would rather visit any caribbean island than anywhere else in the world. My daughters want to cruise europe and mediterranean, etc. but I love to visit my own people on every island.

In reply to Slipfeeler
i must say you have made some real good points, i do question the dedication by WI cricket administrators because of the very fact you mention of been a true patriate because we are not a country but for many of us like my self its more about sentiments i guess, i just can't stand to see WI cricket break up but i am afraid there is the stark reality that is facing us that we can't run from, if or when it happens if i am around will be gut wrenching

In reply to Slipfeeler
I am on the 30 yard line on this topic, even as I watched Jacob Bethel, Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan playing for England..

Win or lose, it is West Indies or nothing. The day there is no longer a West Indies cricket team is the day I turn my back on the game.

In reply to Slipfeeler

Come on chap....When did Jamaica ever play an ODI?

Dem already gawn alone?

In reply to Slipfeeler

The Rules

In reply to Slipfeeler

I feel the sentiment but why do we scoff at other nations for doing what they can? Also, it's more than 16, there's a ton of qualifying that was in place beforehand. Wish that Caribbean journalists would do more in-depth analysis of the cricket world outside of Test nations if they're going to talk about them.



Assuming the ICC would fast-track teams at the expense of other Associates in the first place... Afghanistan had to start at the bottom rung of the ladder.



Dehring again doesn't understand how the IPL and franchise leagues in general work. Players from Full Member nations have all the advantages in exposure and opportunity. You have to be crazy good to get a chance if you're from an Associate. Ali Khan managed to parlay his CPL appearance into a professional career, but he's one of a distinct few to even sniff the big stage. WI players by and large don't have those problems.

Dehring's clarion call may find traction and that's all well and good. But countries within the WI need to tread carefully. And if I'm an administrator of a Board in a less-heralded jurisdiction (say Dominica or St. Vincent) I'd be extra wary as the potential to remove any advantages of your cricket-playing population to other nations is immense.

In reply to bdaTryangle
Apart from cricket these Islands send teams/players to the Olympics, commonwealth games, soccer, netball and all other sports, as individual nations.
We may be hanging on to something that is on it death bed.
As a Barbadian and fan of West Indies cricket, the weight is still on the top four to produce players.

[b]In reply to openning[/
you mention the top four i can remember when Barbados was strong WI was, i just can't understand how the top four can not produce four really good batsmen

In reply to openning

Very good points, so maybe a split in cricket will push the non-Big 4 to step their game up while the Big 4 encounter their own challenges.

One key difference is that in cricket WI gets a much bigger share of ICC revenue than individual Associates. I'd strongly doubt that individual WI nations would get anything close to what they'd get within a combined WI entity. They'd also be competing against each other for sponsorship $.

In reply to Windiesfan78

I understand the sentiments, but do you support an individual nation during the regional tourneys? Why wouldn't that extend to matches against other cricket nations?

In reply to bird

A number of fans don't understand the value , professionalism earned from playing county cricket by our greats.
These players brought their entire repertoire to clubs and the region.

all I say for now is that it is an interesting theory that warrants some further thought and analysis. is the suggestion that we got it alone only for T20 or for all cricket?

In reply to openning

I agree with you but how many WI players get an opportunity to play English County cricket? In fact, the Engish years ago deliberately reduced the number of WI playing county cricket, in an effort to undermine and destroy WI cricket. AS you correctly stated it reduced the value, professional experience and level of professionalism among WI players which continues to decline with each passing years, until we are now left with only a shell of our great WI teams of the past.

In reply to bdaTryangle

I support Barbados during the regional tournament but if the team loses, I am not bothered. This is because I look at the bigger picture. At the end of the day, we all play for the same team. I have supported our team for too long to give up on them now. I am what you call a diehard fan.

In reply to bdaTryangle
Going alone is not something I consider.
I remember having drinks with team mates here in Calgary, and was told of Barbados wanting to go alone and was embarrass playing against the Rest of the World.
I knew it was nonsense, because it was part of our Independent celebration

In reply to VoopsandOut

I don't think that's even a possibility and the ICC would certainly reject it.

Could there be precedent a la British Lions in rugby? WI in cricket isn't the draw that it may once have been. Would seem messy to have WI alongside individual Caribbean nations, especially concerning contracts and commitments. Would certainly have to be the whole hog, I'd bet.

Dehring hasn't even yet considered the women's game, on top of all this.

Windiesfan78 I fully understand. Several here bleed maroon, so to speak.

In reply to bdaTryangle
Dude these Islands are all independent, one domino fall and like Federation, it falls apart.
All would happen is, the Island that go at it alone, will no longer be part of CWI, and would join the lower tier of the ICC.

In reply to openning

Barbados women are going it alone, as they will participate in the 2022 Commonwealth Games cricket competition in Birmingham as the representative team from the West Indies.

Here are some “Go it alone “ teams:
- Western Jamaica
- Bridgetown
- Tobago
- Berbice
- Nevis
- Antigua
- Grenada
- St. Kitts
- St Vincent
- Dominica
- St Lucia

In reply to Slipfeeler
It is not the first time that a team from Barbados was at the Commonwealth game.
Barbados won 22 4-day championships plus i shared
Jamaica 12
Guyana 10 (plus 1 shared)
Trinidad and Tobago 4 (plus 1 shared)
Leeward Islands 3 (plus 1 shared)
Combined Islands 1

In reply to Slipfeeler

Yagga has been reading my posts…I have long argued that Jamaica must go it alone….it will benefit cricket in all the Caribbean territories…assuming that they go it alone as well..

I assume that Yagga has fired the first salvo…time to run for Jamaica cricket president and immediately withdraw Jamaica from West Indies..

No issue here!

In reply to natty_forever
I believe that individual teams will be stronger than the West Indies and will attract national funding

In reply to Baje
Chris Dehring did all that he could to enrich himself and family off of WI cricket and is now trying to get back in to drink the blood that he spilled...
it's a well written piece of nonsense, it appeals to the nationalist and not logic. Under the revenue system, we will be several poorer associates versus a less poor CWI. Our share and vote at the table would be lost as well as opportunities for most of our players ...
The Olympics and T20WC would not have the enhance our visibility as lowly associates and the expected TV or sponsorship will fall flat ...
We should be investigating Dehring & Uncle Pat for embezzlement and fraud .. not taking their bait to be further exploited...

In reply to openning

From what I see here open is that the other Caribbean countries have some catching up to do . On a serious note, unity is strength and I will give an example. Barbados first won the regional t20 competition when the team was mixed with foreign and regional talent. Imagine a Bajan team playing in the t20 World Cup. I think I have made my point. What I am trying to say is united we stand and divided we fall. The success of our once great team didn't come from the efforts of one, it came from many.

In reply to Baje

From where.
Stewwwwps.
By the way Guyana in not an island.take one good look at di deriorating education systems in each territory and tell me how yuh building a base in the schools. Then tell me who is financing the business clubs and community clubs.

Di party’s over.
If you’re actually serious take a good look at football in Brazil today and get back to me.

In reply to Chrissy

This entire article is what I will call dotish. Imagine the writer compares Papua New Gunia is an example.

In reply to Windiesfan78

I am on the fence on this topic, but I am getting closer to Chris Dehring thinking, I look back at the Federation, then education for all, then Independence, free post secondary education, then a Republic.
That what happen in that 166 sq miles in the last 60 years.
You can go at it alone with sports , and still be a member of Caricom, at lease Insularity would be a word, not associated with any fan from him, when it comes to the new CWI.

In reply to openning

Insularity has been a plague at all levels of WI cricket including this very message board, for too long.

In reply to bdaTryangle
I cheer for the Barbados Pride the same way I cheer for the Pittsburg Steelers, I enjoy going after Dallas and SanFran fans, show me the rings.
Every thing is insularity, produce players, win International matches, then all that talk about insularity will be left at home.

Some very interesting comments, which have actually met my objective for posting this article. The reality is that as much as each territory would contemplate "Going it alone", in an idealistic manner, we are intrinsically linked to each other under CWI. Like Federation if one island decides to "go it alone", that will be beginning of the end of CWI. Therefore, lets encourage each territory to provide young cricketers with proper coaching and training, provide proper cricket pitches for training; mentorship of young players by more experienced players and provide young cricketers with opportunities to compete and gain valuable match practices. Then WI might uncover some Bryan Lara, some Gordon Greenidge;some Garfield Sobers (the great one); some Lawrence Yagga Rowe; some Michael Holding; some Clive Lloyd; some Vivian Richards; some Malcolm Marshall(You know I had to add him); some Rohan Kanhai; of course some Uni Bosses.

In reply to Slipfeeler

I just worry that the next Viv won't realize his full potential because an Antigua & Barbuda side won't get the chance to showcase him against say NZ or Pakistan.

That said, yes the impetus should be, in any event, to improve infrastructure and the like in individual territories for that eventuality.

“Divided we stand, united we fall” - the new motto for a 21st. Century West Indies. Meanwhile Europe is coming together to fight the Russian Bear. NATO has never being more unite. Windies cricket fans see possibilities in division.

In reply to Slipfeeler

We already have a UB if he would stay fit. I am talking about Evin Lewis.

I dont have a problem with a Caribbean Economic Union…but international sports is based on national spirit and patriotism…West Indies cricket is an idea that is long past its sell by date

In reply to bdaTryangle

Unlike Vivian Richards, Richie Richards and Ambrose, who dominated their craft, these days if there are any Antiguan players with some degree of batting or bowling potential, then you do not have to worry about him been drafted into the WI team.

In reply to FanAttick

I have to have a laugh and I will state the reason why. The West Indies team is one that has been failing for years for one simple reason, the acceptance of mediocrity. We have no world class coaches currently training this lot and don't have the financial backing of many of the otber cricketing nations. Tell me something, St. Lucia has two cricketers worthy of mention in Darren Sammy and Johnson Charles, who have a stadium and stand named after them respectively. Can you honestly see St. Lucia being competitive against the same English team the West Indies recently beat? How about St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Croix, St. Vincent and Dominica just to name a few. All of these islands have produced talented cricketers and if one checks, there is a reason why in regional cricket we have the Leeward and Windward Islands. Having a West Indies team gives talented individuals from across the region a chance to represent a team with a great history of success. The idea of 'going it alone' is garbage and I dash it wey inna the bin where it belongs.

Yawn. We have neither the population nor the resources, financial and otherwise.
Do you know how long it takes to get to International status in cricket?
The majority of people interested in cricket in the Caribbean are people in the diaspora who live with their memories.
Antigua got it right when they pioneered cricket as a party. That is the only attraction for most of our people under 35. An English journalist once wrote of a test match in Antigua "I came for a party and a test match broke out."

In reply to Slipfeeler

Compelling reasoning.

//

In reply to bobby

true dat

In reply to Ewart

Agreed that we might have to promote the sport of cricket differently among our younger generation, to make it more attractive to them, and in a more festive environment, instead of the "old english, stiff upper lip" concept, that has been entrenched into the sport of cricket from back in the days. Adam Sandford got it right, as it generated a lot of interest in cricket as sport not only in the Caribbean but also worldwide. For the first time we are hearing of millionaire cricketers. In countries like Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, where cricket seems to be a dying sport, especially among our young people, I am sure that a more festive atmosphere of soca and reggae will encourage more younger persons not only to attend matches but also to gain an interest in the game, maybe even choose to play cricket professionally over football and track & field. With a strong and competitive WI team, there will be no reason for any territory to consider "gong it alone".