The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket

An instructive article on WI cricket

imusic 7/29/25, 6:48:38 PM
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debut: 11/13/02
80,592 runs

“How One ‘Dumb’ Review Exposed a Deeper Crisis in West Indies Cricket”

When Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge were being groomed for international cricket, they didn’t get one key thing: exposure to the Decision Review System (DRS). That absence — though invisible on the stat sheet — came crashing into full view during the recent West Indies vs Australia Test series.

It was Kevlon Anderson’s debut Test, and West Indies were already in survival mode

When West Indies debutant Kevlon Anderson reviewed an LBW decision during the third Test against Australia — a ball that was crashing into middle stump — fans around the world erupted in disbelief. Some called it the worst review they’d ever seen. The clip went viral. The laughter, brutal. The embarrassment, global.

But pause the ridicule for a moment — and look deeper.

This wasn’t just a bad review.
It was a symptom of a broken system.

Anderson — playing in only his second Test match —Based on all available reporting and evidence, had never used DRS before. In fact, most West Indies domestic players never get access to DRS in their regional tournaments. They arrive on the international stage without the tools, exposure, or match experience to understand how DRS works in real time: when to use it, how to assess angles, and how to communicate with a partner under pressure.
There is no credible source or media report indicating that the West Indies Academy or regional domestic programs currently train players on DRS usage.before entering the international stage. CWI’s training structure focuses on technique, leadership, and fitness but lacks documented protocols for review systems—even though such exposure has become a staple of player development in other Test-playing nations.

So the real question isn’t: “Why did he review that?”
It’s: “Why wasn’t he trained to know better?”


WI players and DRS