commentary by MARTIN WILLIAMSON
It's hardly a secret that West Indies cricket is in a far from healthy state. The national side continues in a gradual decline that dates back to the early 1990s, the domestic game is battling for survival in an increasingly Amercianised region, and the Caribbean has hosted a World Cup which, through not fault of its own people, looks like being remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Against this backdrop, the relationship between the board and its national players, never strong, is threatening to plunge to an all-time low. Over the last couple of years, barely a month has gone by without headlines of contractual disputes or rumours of strikes. But on the eve of the side setting off on a tour of England, the situation is rapidly deteriorating. At the moment, it seems inconceivable that the tour might not start on time, but the board's conduct in recent weeks has left the players deeply unhappy.
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