Is Windies Cricket dying in front of our eyes?

[Masterji]

The brilliance of Richards, Greenidge, Lara and Gayle, the genius of Marshall, the accuracy of Ambrose and the athleticism of Holding.All sights to behold but the morbid atmosphere in the grounds tells me that the windies cricket is on its last legs. Test cricket has been dying for a number of yrs but one day cricket is also dying. Its as if the fans can`t bare to watch a family relative being buried.

[Big Harvey]

To be honest it's not just the morbid atmosphere in the stands. The players themselves look as if they don't actually like playing cricket very much.

[cricketfanfirst]

West Indies is going through a transition phase albeit a long and painful one. Interest of the crowds will obviously be minimal, if your team is getting hammered all the time.

I think with better management of WICB board like sorting out the differences between players and the board, the WI team can be a competing unit in coming years. The differences between the board and players started from early 2000s and it is still persisting. I think this has caused uncertainty and lack of professionalism amongst the players.

West Indies have found few new talents like Darren Bravo, Adrian Barath, Bishoo and even the keeper Baugh is a competent one, also the new allrounder Russell who excelled in ODIs. If they sort the issues between players and board, the team can be a good unit.

Crowds will start to come to the stadium only if your team does well. If you have seen the second test, on the last day once WI had put up a fight and had a sniff chance at victory, the crowds started to fill in the stadium.

[Masterji]

What really shocked was the poor crowds for ODI`S. I expect poor crowds for the test matches because without the like if Lara Windies don`t have the star attractions but in ODI`S they have enough competent cricketers to be competitive.

[Gabbar Singh]

Originally Posted by Big Harvey To be honest it's not just the morbid atmosphere in the stands. The players themselves look as if they don't actually like playing cricket very much.

Must be quite difficult to represent a political and geographical union as opposed to a country. Imagine the England team not existing and them having to play for the EU or something similar.

Add that to the lack of crowds and just general disinterest in cricket over there and it's a depressing situation.

Still think they'll be up there with the best in odis and T20s however their test future looks bleak.

[SameerP]

cricket is dying or atleast losing popularity in most countries

[cricketfanfirst]

Originally Posted by Masterji What really shocked was the poor crowds for ODI`S. I expect poor crowds for the test matches because without the like if Lara Windies don`t have the star attractions but in ODI`S they have enough competent cricketers to be competitive.

Yes, I agree the even in the ODIs, the stadiums were not filled. Hope Darren Bravo and company give some hope for WI team.

[AfridiZindabad]

Have you been sleeping for the last decade? lol WI have been pathetic since a long time now. Even when they had the likes of Gayle, Lara, Dwayne Bravo, Sarwan and Chanderpaul in their prime they always managed to lose. They often showed signs of revival like the win in Champions trophy but then again they just couldn't kept going.

[Blitz]

The problem is, the decline is becoming a tad too long.

Dangerous levels.

Fans from the 90s' may come back, but in a few years, a whole generation of youth would not have been into cricket.


There could be permanent damage, especially with the popularity of basketball and sprinting.


Are we seeing it die right in front of us? I'd be suprised if West Indies were even in the top 10 in a decades time.

[Amjid Javed]

W.I cricket has been dying for last 20 years. At start of the 90s you could tell they started to dip from the force they once were and by the end off the 90s they had become a very average side. The team off the last 11 years has just been there really on the whole to make up the numbers which is sad to see!

[Ismailtoca]

When you dont get the crowds for ODI's, its already dead.

The same thing is happening to Pakistan cricket... without matches playing at home, and our team struggling overseas, without a cricketer to really look forward to, cricket will eventually die

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by Ismailtoca When you dont get the crowds for ODI's, its already dead. The same thing is happening to Pakistan cricket... without matches playing at home, and our team struggling overseas, without a cricketer to really look forward to, cricket will eventually die

Nope, it won't die in Pakistan. The viewing figures, the massive interest, everything. Its still the biggest sport by miles.


Cricket is not even top 2 in West Indies anymore. Some of the islands have given up. They are pretty much bankrupt. A whole generation of children have not attended cricket matches.


Cricket CAN die in West Indies.

Just like it CAN die in New Zealand.


Aus/Eng/Pak/Ind/SL/SA is just impossible. Its in the blood.

[asian123]

Top quality observation masterji

[BoiWonder]

i like the windies. they have some fiesty quickies such as edwards, taylor, russel

[jeetu]

WI have always produced talented players they just don't seem driven now. They showed some spark v/s Pakistan recently but fizzled out again. WICB deserves most blame.

[NO 1 AFRIDI FAN]

It's a shame really. It's mainly the fault of the board, but still there are some new talented players coming up.

[Masterji]

If you love cricket, then the chances are that you love the windies cricket culture. For me growing up with all those brilliant cricketers, it is so sad and painful to watch. If cricket dies or just fades away slowly in the caribbean then it will be a very desperate day.

[Ambi]

once a team reaches the top the spectators either want to see you at the top or they expect top class performance from that side.

[SAF]

Not only WestIndies cricket, but International Cricket on a whole is dying. With only 5/6 good teams, its bound to get boring. There is WC-only 10 teams now, then there is a t20 WC basically every year, then the Champions trophy-which is a mini WC. You have 3 big tournaments and as always, its dominated by the same teams every friggen year.

The addition of t20 leagues hasnt helped either..

[Keith]

The Windies, as a test nation are done. Sad, considering the awesome legends that they have produced. RIP Malcolm.

[Masterji]

What has really infuriated me in the last few yrs is the lack of care and passion shown by the players. A golden legacy destroyed by charlatans.

[SameerP]

Originally Posted by Masterji What has really infuriated me in the last few yrs is the lack of care and passion shown by the players. A golden legacy destroyed by charlatans.

Do you mean Gayle? Because I still see some players with lot of passion, specially Sammy. Gayle and Pollard looks more excited about playing in IPL

[mastermind_quad]

tehre are so many good youngsters in WI ...hey just need proper management and motivation to play for West Indies ...as it can be seen they are more interested in their regional teams like ..T&T ,Guyana ,etc then WI ....

[spiron]

Originally Posted by Big Harvey To be honest it's not just the morbid atmosphere in the stands. The players themselves look as if they don't actually like playing cricket very much.

The way Sammy was clinching his fist and celebrating after Raina was dismissed.. cuz he had opted for new ball introduction.. does provides the insight. He really was feeling as if he has clinched the Moon.

[zaid65]

Originally Posted by SAF Not only WestIndies cricket, but International Cricket on a whole is dying. With only 5/6 good teams, its bound to get boring. There is WC-only 10 teams now, then there is a t20 WC basically every year, then the Champions trophy-which is a mini WC. You have 3 big tournaments and as always, its dominated by the same teams every friggen year. The addition of t20 leagues hasnt helped either..

Excellent post.

It is funny, people can only see and talk about West Indies cricket but close their eyes on Pakistan, NZ, and other minnows.

Outside the India, Australia, South Africa and England, to some extent in Sri Lanka, it is a dead sport.

[Masterji]

As brilliant player as Gayle can be, he is also the least caring about the team. Boycott said that as captain he used to go to sleep at first sleep.

[SameerP]

Originally Posted by Masterji As brilliant player as Gayle can be, he is also the least caring about the team. Boycott said that as captain he used to go to sleep at first sleep.

And he is the idiot who said he wants test cricket to die, Can't respect a cricketer who says that. He sees the game just as an opportunity to make money, let him only play big bash or ipl

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by SAF Not only WestIndies cricket, but International Cricket on a whole is dying. With only 5/6 good teams, its bound to get boring. There is WC-only 10 teams now, then there is a t20 WC basically every year, then the Champions trophy-which is a mini WC. You have 3 big tournaments and as always, its dominated by the same teams every friggen year. The addition of t20 leagues hasnt helped either..

2011 - 50 Over World cup - India
2010 - T20 World cup - England
2009 - T20 World Cup - Pakistan
2007 - T20 World cup- India
2007- 50 Over World cup - Australia


Last 5 world tournaments have produced 4 different winners. And Sri Lanka isn't on that list, with 3 finals! And South Africa!

Some would say, International cricket has never been more competitive.

[shaheer]

West Indies need to sort out their baord as witha good board and their teams perofming the interest will arise again.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Blitz Just like it CAN die in New Zealand.

Well, we live in hope.....

[Masterji]

Although i have said before cricket is in real trouble in England as the native population don`t care too much but amongst the Asians its never been so popular. The Sky deal has brought money but has actually done more damage.

[Big Harvey]

Originally Posted by Gabbar Singh Must be quite difficult to represent a political and geographical union as opposed to a country. Imagine the England team not existing and them having to play for the EU or something similar.

I haven't noticed any lack of passion among English golfers when they play for Europe in the Ryder Cup!

The lack of passion among West Indies cricketers (and fans) is a recent thing that's happened in the last 10 years.

[Big Harvey]

Originally Posted by Blitz Aus/Eng/Pak/Ind/SL/SA is just impossible. Its in the blood.

You missed Bangladesh out of the equation. They're crazy for the game out there!

[what ho]

For someone who apparently doesn't care for test cricket, Gayle's form in the recent past has been rather good!

[SameerP]

Originally Posted by Big Harvey You missed Bangladesh out of the equation. They're crazy for the game out there!

They need to become good first

[SameerP]

Originally Posted by what ho For someone who apparently doesn't care for test cricket, Gayle's form in the recent past has been rather good!

Well I used to not like Math regardless of the fact that I did pretty well in the exam

[Big Harvey]

Originally Posted by Masterji As brilliant player as Gayle can be, he is also the least caring about the team. Boycott said that as captain he used to go to sleep at first sleep.

When your best players are like that, it leads to a culture of laziness. Until Otis Gibson took over, the West Indies fielding wouldn't have looked out of place in a scratch game in a public park, and it had been going that way for years, since Lara was still playing.

I do think the sharpness in the field has improved greatly, and the team definitely works harder than it used to. Even the bowling looks OK most of the time. Sadly they don't look as if they're enjoying playing at the moment, and morale is bound to be adversely affected by them missing their best batsman.

I don't know whether what Otis Gibson & Co. are doing is the right thing, but I can certainly see why they're doing it. However I fear that to succeed, at least one or two young batsman will need to come though from somewhere and start scoring big runs. If that does happen, then Chis Gayle and the attitude he cultivates will be forgotten.

[Masterji]

Its nice to see Edwards score a ton yesterday but Sammy needs to be dropped as they need another strike bowler. I think if Roach had played in the first two, they would have won at least one of them.

[Inherent Ignorance]

Glory is not permanent. There are ups and downs. Windies will bounce back some time.

[Masterji]

I think the glory days are gone forever.The windies will never be the best team ever again because the game is professional and they will always have an incompetent board like Pakistan.

[cricketfanfirst]

Masterji-- The atmosphere in the stands now is electric. People have flocked in.

My point is, if the WI team pulls up its socks, we will have people back to the stadiums.

[SOSami]

There seem to be some really good youngsters coming through.

They lost the first test against the No1 ranked team, could have won the second and now are playing a competitive final session in an attempt at levelling the series. I haven't notice a huge gulf in quality between between the two teams in this series.

Dwayne Bravo and Samuels look like decent batsmen, who with the right support will improve.

A fully-fit bowling line up consisting of Fidel, Taylor, Roach, Bishoo and Sammy looks good too.

Pollard I think would make a decent test player with the right experience.

[AlizeeFan]

Originally Posted by SOSami There seem to be some really good youngsters coming through. They lost the first test against the No1 ranked team, could have won the second and now are playing a competitive final session in an attempt at levelling the series. I haven't notice a huge gulf in quality between between the two teams in this series. Dwayne Bravo and Samuels look like decent batsmen, who with the right support will improve. A fully-fit bowling line up consisting of Fidel, Taylor, Roach, Bishoo and Sammy looks good too. Pollard I think would make a decent test player with the right experience.

Their bowling line-up is good, it's the batting which keeps always keeps them behind other teams. First two tests and none of the batsman looked like playing a long inning. These youngsters will have raise their game in every match like they did today. Hopefully we will see a better team in few years.

[SOSami]

Yea, the old chestnut 'consistency' - something that youngsters find hard to find.

[Masterji]

Originally Posted by cricketfanfirst Masterji-- The atmosphere in the stands now is electric. People have flocked in. My point is, if the WI team pulls up its socks, we will have people back to the stadiums.

It was great but one good day doesn`t make a summer.