West Indies cricket has a rich history and is renowned for its dominance in the early years of international cricket. West Indies emerged as a dominant force in cricket from the late 1960s to the early 1990s.
Led by legendary players such as Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Clive Lloyd, and many others, they enjoyed a period of unparalleled success. During this time, the West Indies team showcased a formidable fast bowling attack, often referred to as the “pace quartet” or “pace battery.”
Bowlers like Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, and Andy Roberts, among others, struck fear into the hearts of batsmen around the world. The top bookmakers cover all the matches related to West Indies cricket.
Not only in the 80s and 70s, but West Indies also dominated the limited-over format in the 2000s as they won the T20 World Cup twice in 2012 and 2016. This is an example of the pure ferociousness West Indies possessed at one time in international cricket.
However, time has changed and things are not going well for the West Indies cricket as they failed to qualify for the ICC ODI World Cup scheduled to take place in 2023. It is a devastating news which is very hard to believe. According to our analysis, there are a few factors with which West Indies cricket is struggling in the current era of international cricket.
WICB's dispute with the players
The issue between WICB and West Indies players made it to the headlines in 2015 when Dwayne Bravo criticized the authority regarding internal politics. It was later on discovered that the players have long argued that they are not paid enough for their services and that the WICB has not been transparent about how it distributes revenue.
The unprofessionalism of the board has led to frustration among the players and they are insecure regarding their position in the team and their payments of the matches. In 2022, the WICB and WIPA announced that they had reached a new agreement that would resolve the dispute.
The agreement includes provisions for increased player payments, greater transparency in revenue distribution, and more control for players over their image rights. The agreement is seen as a breakthrough, and it is hoped that it will help to restore West Indies cricket to its former glory.
Best Players not getting an Opportunity
There is something wrong with the West Indies Cricket Board because they are not giving chances to the best players. Sunil Narine and Andre Russell are still active in international cricket and they have expressed their desire to play for their country.
However, nobody from the WICB is considering their request. Both players are being ignored by the selection committee even though, both players have performed exceptionally well in the T20 Cricket Leagues across the globe.
Existing players failing to step up to the occasion
Consistency has been an issue for the West Indies team. They have struggled to string together consistent performances and have faced difficulties in maintaining their performance levels across multiple matches and series.
Inconsistency in both batting and bowling has hampered their progress. West Indies cricket has faced challenges in talent retention and development.
In recent years, several talented players have chosen lucrative contracts in T20 leagues around the world over representing the West Indies. This talent drain has affected the depth and quality of the talent pool available for selection.
