No better time to re-evaluate Windies cricket

West Indies, under Clive Lloyd, were victorious in the first Cricket World Cup (CWC) in 1975, then repeated four years later in 1979.

They were knocked off their pedestal at the next tournament of 1983 when India blew them away in the final.

India, with a mind for their crowd support at home, used their new status as defending champions to suggest that the following CWC of 1987 should take place in India. This was granted but certain regulations had to be changed. The most important was that the number of overs would be reduced from 60 an innings to 50. The practical reason for this was that daylight is of a much shorter duration in the subcontinent of India.

This change was accepted and it was found to be more suitable on a worldwide basis.

One-Day-International cricket or ODI as they are more popularly known since then, is currently contested over 50-overs a side amongst the tense rivalry of countries.

We have now arrived in 2023 and although the CWC is held every four years, the West Indies have not won the competition since 1979, nor participated in any one of its finals since 1983.

Subsequently, more and more countries have been participating, to the extent that teams have to qualify while competing against one another in league competitions for the privilege of taking part. The top eight teams over a specified period of time, usually two years, could accumulate enough points through their performances to automatically qualify.

This year, WI have not qualified for the honour of upholding the dignity of the region with their esteemed presence. It is the first time they are not contesting the ODI CWC which is humiliating for a team that won the two initial contests to prove themselves a top-notch cricket team of the day.

At present, the competition is in progress in India where there are ten teams, which include neophyte countries like Afghanistan and the Netherlands, competing for recognition in the World Cup finals and they have been generating some very good displays. The former demolished England, the defending world champions, while the latter whipped South Africa convincingly, to make cricket fans worldwide sit up and take notice.

WI were the fourth team to be accepted to the higher echelons of competition worldwide in 1928. Between 1979 and 1995 they conquered every cricket-playing country in the world consistently in Test cricket and in 1998/99 suffered their first 5-nil series loss in their Test history, against South Africa.

The decline was rapid after that and the 21st century has proven to be elusive to victories. Once more the time to take a good look at WI cricket is now to put things in place and correct where we have gone wrong.

One noticeable observation is the natural ability of the cricketers on show in the domestic Super50 tournament now in progress.

The flair to play the game, the coordination of the batsmen, the agility of the bowlers, wicket keepers and fielders.

So much talent within a small group of islands.

I’ve witnessed a number of gifted young cricketers in the Super50 and before. Thus, if there is not a shortage of aptitude, hence, where is our deficiency? It has to start with administrators. They ought to have a basic knowledge and understanding of the game of cricket in order to build a foundation. Then, to uncover the expert personnel with the capability to teach the game, using cricket intelligence and a serious approach to success. To develop a winning mentality, so that each player knows what he has to do to win and that he himself has to do it and not leave it for his teammate.

Knowing the way to develop these functions is to practise with the right approach and practise some more with one hundred per cent effort. This builds self-confidence, character and proficiency. Getting the right people to direct these functions is the secret of an efficient administration. It is not the choosing of a coach because he has a successful background as a player, but someone who knows why he was successful and what he did to achieve that quality as a player.

With proper direction, young cricketers like Alick Athanaze, Kirk Mackenzie, Dominic Drakes, Matthew Nandu, Matthew Forde, Keacy Carty, Akeem Jordan, Anderson Phillip, Chamar Holder, Daniel Doram, Leonardo Julien and a host of others that space limits me to name, can instil pride once more in WI cricketers and their supporters.