Who do you see as making up the core of the Test side in five years time?
That is a very worrying aspect as well. Not only have the English shown up our deficiencies in the Test series but in the matches outside the Tests as well. The selection hasn't been good, where the batting teams have found it difficult to raise 200 runs. They've thrown in very young players into those tour matches.
And the selectors have adopted a 'youth-at-all-costs' policy. Is that a smart move?
No. You put in Xavier Marshall, Dinesh Ramdin and a few other U-19s who have just come back from the Youth World Cup but they're not up to that level yet. When you push them, I think you're asking too much of them at too early an age. They haven't learned to develop an innings yet, to build an innings so they are not ready. Players are coming in and doing well because of their natural talent, but they are missing the background to push on so a number of them fade very quickly.
And the selectors have adopted a 'youth-at-all-costs' policy. Is that a smart move?
No. You put in Xavier Marshall, Dinesh Ramdin and a few other U-19s who have just come back from the Youth World Cup but they're not up to that level yet. When you push them, I think you're asking too much of them at too early an age. They haven't learned to develop an innings yet, to build an innings so they are not ready. Players are coming in and doing well because of their natural talent, but they are missing the background to push on so a number of them fade very quickly.
The WICB has talked about the importance of retainer contracts. Do you think that will make much of a difference to performance?
I think it will. The players will then become professional on a year round basis and the Board can then call the shots, but given the history of the Board, you wonder if that's a good thing. But I think it probably will be. There is talk of difficulties raising enough finance. The wastage of money in the Board to me is staggering.
What do you mean by wastage?
For instance, the number of people they have on staff. I just wonder how do they occupy their time for 8 hours a day, for 5 days a week? I'm astounded but they will come and tell me about Murphy's Law, that the more people you have, the more work they will create. I think they can cut down on that.
Everywhere you go in the Caribbean with during the Test series, it seems as if the entire Board is at the ground, and for what reason? What are they doing here? They're staying in 5-Star hotels, they're travelling I would imagine First Class, maybe Economy, but all that costs money. Why are they here?
I think it will. The players will then become professional on a year round basis and the Board can then call the shots, but given the history of the Board, you wonder if that's a good thing. But I think it probably will be. There is talk of difficulties raising enough finance. The wastage of money in the Board to me is staggering.
What do you mean by wastage?
For instance, the number of people they have on staff. I just wonder how do they occupy their time for 8 hours a day, for 5 days a week? I'm astounded but they will come and tell me about Murphy's Law, that the more people you have, the more work they will create. I think they can cut down on that.
Everywhere you go in the Caribbean with during the Test series, it seems as if the entire Board is at the ground, and for what reason? What are they doing here? They're staying in 5-Star hotels, they're travelling I would imagine First Class, maybe Economy, but all that costs money. Why are they here?
caribbeancricket Wed, Apr 21, '04
