"Trust me," said Richie Benaud, "it looks more like 150."

It wasn't a wild prediction from the former Australia captain. England were tottering at five for 72 in the 20th over. They'd started off strongly with a lovely knock from openers Andrew Strauss and newcomer Mal Loye that had brought up 50 in 61 balls. Loye was impressive, knocking Glenn McGrath to various boundaries and beyond before losing his wicket on 36 and heralding the collapse.
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In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
I don't know about the innate traits thing- most of us don't believe in that save a few Truman's and Boycotts - but your right, the key is culture and science and an understanding of individual and team accountability. Perhaps, the intense focus on one player in the West Indies has been one of the contributors to the decline- When Ricky fails, and Ricky is better than our current best players, others do step up becuase they know they will be held accountable by the public and the selectors. Another issue is the island politics and island choice- I have no problem with fixed quotas, but when the cupboards are bare and stringency is the key word, then the best must be picked. It is interesting that Mike Hussey had to wait so long to get in this side, but now he is in, he's so hard to out, legally or not. Hopefully the same will be true is someone like Sylvester Joseph or Ryan Hinds gets in - Although that may be a pipe dream - All in all a useful series of observations in this article, however.

Ms. Baksh ,

I enjoy reading your articles . The key word in this piece IN MY OPINION is INVESTMENT .

The LACK OF INVESTMENT in my opinion encapsulates ALL that is wrong and missing from Cricket in OUR Region .

This I squarely lay at the feet of the WICB aka the Pirates . To my knowledge , the last 2 persons who recieved training overseas were Gayle & Sarwan .

They allowed the Academy in Grenada to close . The constant back and forth with the Players aint helpful .

I dont have the same platform that you have to air my views of what is wrong with Cricket in the Region , but I generally do through this MB .

If you have never read any of my posts , let me reiterate some what I think is wrong in this Region .

First of all WE have to acknowledge that CRICKET IN THIS REGION IS GOVERNED BY A PRIVATE ENTITY . This entity has for years governed Cricket in the Region as though it is running a Mauby Shop that was hastily constructed by the roadside .

The blunders , faults , and flaws of the WICB are not only numerous but also monumental . This is compounded by the duplicity of their bedfellows , persons who profess to be in your profession , who I take great delight in calling PSEUDO SPORTS JOURNALISTS , they are shameless charlatans . who refuse to be critical of the WICB . This fact has allowed the WICB to continue their evil ways ,One wonders where the hell they learnt their journalistic skills , mainly due to the fact that they have never invistigated anything concerning their bedfellows the Pirates .

I recently read a piece by Michael HOLDINFG , asking what happened to the the money that the WICB obtained from SKYSPORTS . I cannot recall any of the pseudo sports journalists in the Region following up on Holdings statement . I at least have been deafened by their silence on this matter .

The WICB and the Pseudo Sports Journalists in the Region are largely responsibly for the decline of Cricket in the Region .

I have therefore come to the conclusion that Cricket in the Region would be best served by the removal of the WICB from governing Cricket in the Region . In my opinion any new entity would , with a minimum of effort do better than the clowns that habitate the WICB .

I can writ more , but hopefully you have got the drift of where I am coming from . BTW perhaps you can tell me WHO OWNS THE WICB ???? . I have asked this question on many occasions and have not got a reply .

Regards ... . POINT .

In reply to POINT

POINTS ,
Please tell us where the money is comning from. The key IS Investment- but unless you are going to tell us where the money is comning from, your criticisms of the WICB have little merit.
Its easy to lay oiut a detailed programme of what the WI can do to help revitalise our cricket , but without money-INVESTMENT-its a pipe dream.

In reply to carib


the WICB should have made use of someone like Lara. Great batsman that he is, where are the dvds , the t shirts , the posters? Do they have a marketing department at Factory rd?


The assholes dont know how to attract business much less run and maintain a business.


WI cricket needs to become financially self sufficient.

In reply to terminator

Do you really think the WICB can make Lara shirts, hats, tees, etc. and sell them without first acquiring certain rights from Lara?

_r

In reply to Admin
So.....acquire them in a deal that provides opportunity for both parties to benefit. All other savvy cricket board executives do this.....

In reply to newdread

Lara don't seem inclined to help the WI board do anything....he'll want market rate for his rights and the WICB cant afford dat....

In reply to carib

stanford put up big bucks for free.

carib beer, red stripe, kfc, c&w, digicel, and a plethora of sponsors, will put up money. governments will put up money.

world bank, us aid, canadian aid, norway, sweeden, japan, etc, all have funds available for infrastructure development in small countries.

so investment funds are available in bountiful excess. what is lacking are the proper systems for applying these fund, and the means and will to catch and penalize those who will surely tief de money.

cricket CAN make money as it does elsewhere. and wherever there are economic opportunities, investment will follow.

In reply to Admin

no but I am sure if lara was getting some kickback from it , he wouldnt mind now would he?

In reply to newdread

Yes, but that actually calls for something called *work*. We both know that's not happening anytime soon.

_r

In reply to Admin :lol: :lol: :lol:

In reply to Larr Pullo
Why even consider Lara in the twighlight of his career, what about making Gayle and Sarwan into the kinds of players that they should be - Why focus only on Lara and trying to affect his last earnings, implying that he is selfish-Aren't there other players? What else must he give up to satisfy Caribbean envy? Is this not a team? A great team can make money with good marketing-and yes admin work is important?

It's wrong to say that Australia were missing three recently retired players when it's a limited overs match being discussed. Warne and Langer have not represented Australia in ODI cricket for a long time.

On a more agreeable note, I am tired of hearing people here say things like "It's all a cycle, West Indies used to thrash everyone, they'll go full circle and do it again". Bullshit! I'm tired of responding with "No they won't, they cannot match the infrastructure, the succession planning, or the professionalism required to do that. They can't keep up and they can't rely on raw talent anymore!" :evil:

Ho humm...yawwwnnnn....

...boring....trite....old hat regurgitation of what umpteen people already wrote...

...even plagiarism, maybe?

I expect the next piece to be about the sun rising every morning....

:roll: :roll: :roll: