West Indies Cricket system needs complete overhaul

Jul 14, 2023 Sports

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By M. Ramcharitar

Kaieteur Sports – For the first time in 48 years, two-time Champions West Indies will not be part of the 50 Over (ODI) World Cup – India Oct/Nov 2023. The need for a complete overhaul of the current development structure of first-class cricket in countries that make up the West Indies is essential to have a strong foundation at the domestic level. A robust first-class cricket system helps in the development of talented players and provides a platform for them to gain experience and showcase their skills in the white ball formats – 50 overs and T20 respectively.

After losing their way over the last view decades, due to lack of proper developmental and preparation system of young players, this results in poor batting/bowling and fielding techniques. Go back in time and take a page out of India book (firstclass cricket), that has led to constant success and sustainability as world powers in all formats of cricket.

How and When it Started for India Cricket

The India tour of the Caribbean in 1971 holds great significance in the history of Indian cricket as it marked India’s first-ever Test series victory against the West Indies, the most dominant cricketing side in the world (at the time). The series victory was a significant milestone for Indian cricket and helped establish India as a competitive force in international cricket (eventually becoming ODI and T20 World Cup Champions). India’s success in limited-overs cricket such as the T20 and One-Day Internationals (ODIs) can be attributed, in part, to the strength of their first-class cricket structure. A strong first-class domestic system has allowed players to hone their skills in the longer format of the game, which helps in developing a solid technique, temperament, and overall cricketing acumen.

With this series victory, India made history, and players like Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Sardesai, and Erapalli Prasanna played crucial roles in their success that proved to be a turning point for Indian cricket, boosting their confidence and setting the foundation for future success.

During the series, Gavaskar showcased his batting prowess and had an outstanding performance.

He scored heavily, including four centuries and a double century. Gavaskar’s impressive run in the series made a significant impact and established his reputation as a batting maestro right from the start of his career. His consistent and impressive performances in that series laid the foundation for a remarkable career that followed. Sunil Gavaskar went on to achieve numerous records and milestones, including becoming the first player to reach 10,000 runs in Test cricket.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen in the history of the game.

West Indies Notable Performers

There are a few notable performers for the West Indies during the 1971 Test series against India.

The West Indies team had a formidable lineup with several talented players who made significant contributions to the game. Sir Garry Sobers (Barbados), one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history, was the captain of the West Indies team during the series. Although he didn’t have a standout series with the bat, Sobers’ leadership and experience were crucial for the team.

Despite not reaching significant individual milestones, Rohan Kanhai’s presence and expertise provided stability to the West Indies batting lineup. As an experienced campaigner, he played a crucial role in guiding and mentoring younger players in the team. Opening batsman, the late

Roy Fredericks (Berbice, Guyana) played a key role in the series, especially in the second Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. He scored a magnificent century, smashing 105 runs in the second innings, helping West Indies set a challenging target for India. Sir Clive Lloyd (Demerara, Guyana) displayed his batting prowess during the series. In the first Test, he scored 76 runs in the first innings, contributing significantly to West Indies’ total. This West Indies team was a formidable side and had several legendary players who made significant contributions to the game.

The Indian cricket team members for the tour of the West Indies in 1971 were as follows:

Ajit Wadekar (Captain), Srinivas Venkataraghavan (vice captain), Sunil Gavaskar, Farokh Engineer (Wicketkeeper), Dilip Sardesai, Gundappa Viswanath, Eknath Solkar, Abid Ali, Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar. Salim Durani. Madan Lal, Sudhir Naik. Syed Abid Ali. Ashok Mankad. Govindraj Rajadhyaksha, Ashok Gandotra. Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Jagjit Singh.

The West Indies cricket team that played against India in 1971 included the following players:

Gary Sobers (Captain), Rohan Kanhai (vice captain), Roy Fredericks, Clive Lloyd, Alvin Kallicharran, Deryck Murray (Wicket-keeper), Lance Gibbs, Vanburn Holder. Bernard Julien, Charlie Davis, Joey Carew. Grayson Shillingford, Inshan Ali and Easton McMorris

The series consisted of five Test matches, and here are the results of each match:

1st Test: June 11-16, 1971 – Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica

Result: Match drawn

Scores: West Indies 360 and 97/2, India 387

2nd Test: June 23-28, 1971 – Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad

Result: India won by 7 wickets

Scores: West Indies 214 and 261, India 352 and 124/3

3rd Test: July 2-7, 1971 – Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana

Result: India won by 7 wickets

Scores: West Indies 214 and 261, India 352 and 124/3

4th Test: July 16-21, 1971 – Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad

Result: Match drawn

Scores: India 352 and 427/8d, West Indies 526

5th Test: August 18-22, 1971 – Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica

Result: India won by 4 wickets

Scores: West Indies 214 and 261, India 352 and 124/3

What Must be Done?

For Guyana and other Caribbean countries to reclaim their status as one of the greatest cricketing sports teams, it is crucial to focus on rebuilding and strengthening their first-class cricket structure. This involves investing in grassroots development, providing adequate infrastructure, ensuring quality coaching, training programs, and fostering a competitive and professional environment for players, by offering scholarship programs with Test playing countries. India would be a great start.

By prioritizing the development of talented cricketers at the domestic level and nurturing their skills through a well-structured first-class cricket system, the Caribbean countries can lay the foundation for success across all formats of the game. This approach has been proven effective by India, as their strong first-class system has contributed significantly to their success in both longer and shorter formats of cricket. It is important to note that transforming the cricketing structure is a complex and long-term process that requires collective effort from various stakeholders, including cricket boards, administrators, coaches, players, and the Guyanese/Caribbean diaspora. This will involve implementing sustainable development programmes, identifying, and nurturing talent, and creating opportunities for players to transition from domestic to international cricket seamlessly.

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