West Indies cricket fans still in hibernation – the sad truth is, they are actually in hiding – recovering from the largest margin of defeat in their 95-year history of Test cricket (the 419-run loss to Australia in the Second Test at the Adelaide Oval last month), might have stirred from their slumber last Thursday, but instantly scurried back to their cocoons upon hearing the latest news. They desire no part of it; neither to read its contents nor hear the announcement of its soon-to-be final resting place – the highest shelf on the rear wall in the archives of Cricket West Indies (CWI).
Yes, yet another report has landed on the desks of CWI Directors. Following the horrific performance by the West Indies at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, where the team was eliminated in the Qualifiers, CWI commissioned a three-member tribunal to review the fiasco and make recommendations. The committee was chaired by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Judge Patrick Thompson Jr, and included South African Inter-national cricket coach Mickey Arthur and former West Indies batting legend Brian Lara. The presence of the last named would no doubt have made fans (save the ‘Laraites’) skeptical. Of course, their wariness of his commitment to West Indies cricket stems from the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture he delivered at Lord’s on 4th September, 2017 (SN Editorial, It’s just not cricket, 13th September, 2017) where he seized the opportunity to lambaste the great sides of the 1980s at an international forum, whilst claiming that he was “truly embarrassed” by the behaviour of the West Indies team that he represented. The West Indies cricket board also received a serving of his wrath, as he laid most of the blame for the decline of the West Indies’ performances at their feet.
In keeping with the format of the previous five governance reviews of the past 20 years, the panel’s report comes with a host of suggestions; six short-term recommendations, 11 medium-term recommendations, and 17 long-term proposals. If the past is anything to go on, we can expect CWI to drag their feet on these 34 proposals, or to appoint a committee to oversee their implementations, or create some other form of red tape not to do anything, while the report becomes just another pile of printed matter gathering dust.
While this column is not the platform, (nor has the space), to review the report, some of the ideas are worthy of closer scrutiny. One of the short-term recommendations is a high-level, three-day retreat involving a core training squad of 30 – 35 players, the head coach and the top brass of Cricket West Indies aimed at helping the West Indies “hit the reset button” in time for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup (scheduled to be hosted by the West Indies and the USA), which presents a “golden opportunity … at reviving the fortunes of the [West Indies] T20 cricket Team”. At this gathering, the report urges the attendance of the CWI president, CEO, Director of Cricket, a representative from the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), and two CWI Directors.
According to the recommendation, “That meeting should be akin to a strategic retreat where players and administration can speak frankly and address any and all grouses (real or imagined) in a constructive manner.” One of the proposed discussions is to determine the “willingness and availability” of the players to participate in the 2024 T20 World Cup. “A performance consultant who can assist the players and management to define West Indies cricket culture, identity and values is essential to this process. It is important that this meeting is convened in a round table format as opposed to management on a raised platform and players on a lower level,” the report said. “Mediator(s) should be secured for this meeting in order to assist and facilitate the discussions contemplated above.”
With the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CWI and WIPA expiring in June, the report calls for the meeting to act as a starting point for discussions over a new agreement.
A critical short-term objective the review group wants fulfilled is for the shortlisted pool of players to feature in “as much red ball cricket for WI as possible”, as that would provide “vital opportunities for primarily white ball players to develop their overall cricketing skills” against better-quality Test teams, which in turn would automatically enhance their preparation for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The panel’s medium term recommendations include the need for increased ”centre wicket practice” during tours (which one can interpret as more three/four day matches), player analysis of regional strength and conditioning facilities, the audit by territorial boards of respective facilities with regards to fulfilling players requirements, and the enhancement of the monitoring and supervision of player conditioning through the investment in “wearable technology (Whoop or Oura for example) that reports back to a central database at CWI headquarters on activity levels for all contracted players” in order to ensure that they are held accountable. Other medium-term strategies recommended include CWI executing “a wholesale review” of player contracts in conjunction with the WIPA and the players, staging a regional workshop on best practices for pitch preparations (how many years now have the West Indian fast bowling legends being clamouring for this?) and monitoring, and increased mental health support for players and support staff.
Long-term strategies proposed include the development and implementation of a scouting programme similar to the one utilised by the NFL (the professional American football league), revision of the qualities required for becoming a selector, creating a mentorship programme for contracted players and the implementation of biomechanics and flexibility as a feature of CWI coaching programmes.
Among the panel’s findings was the fact, that regardless of the format, the best West Indies XI was never being selected since the all players worthy of a place were not always available, mostly due to the fact that they were plying their trade in the various lucrative global T20 leagues. The review noted that it was “entirely understandable” for players to “maximize their earnings”, but warned that this could not come at the detriment of West Indies Cricket.
“In this Group’s view, there is significant distrust between the players and administration and this distrust is inimical to ensuring that the best eleven players turn out for the WI Team in every match,” the review stated.
“No Objection Certificates cannot be weaponized against the players, but it is essential that some middle ground is arrived at. Otherwise, West Indies Cricket may cease to exist as an entity.”
The panel has duly noted the crux of the problems gnawing away at the core of West Indies cricket – the lure of the massive T20 paycheck and the mistrust between the players and the board. Is a three-day powwow with 50 people in a round table format going to resolve anything? Hardly likely. One would have thought that the focus would have been a tête-à-tête between the WIPA and the board, over the expiring MOU with the suggested goal of the adoption of the New Zealand model where the players are free to play wherever they wish as long as make themselves available for the Silver Fern when selected. Would our players agree to this contractual arrangement? One suspects several players have no interest in representing their country on a regular basis or enduring the grind of Test cricket. If that is indeed the case, no problem, but they should not appear crying crocodile tears when their T20 careers wane or the 2024 T20 World Cup is on the calendar and they miraculously have a change of heart and wish to don the maroon. It is quite simple, the player either wants to represents the West Indies or not. He cannot have his cake and eat it.
The panel has made its recommendations. West Indian fans can voice their opinions. Will CWI act on the proposals? Likely we can expect the same old, same old inertia.
