West Indian captain Jason Holder deserves a lot of sympathy as his team plummeted to yet another defeat against India, this time by a 2-0 margin.
This was more or less expected as beating India at home has always been the most difficult task facing any touring team. But what makes the West Indies defeat even worse is the manner in which they caved in.
Agreed that the West Indies have been a spent force since a very long time. But what was disappointing was that a young side had a chance to make a name for themselves and they didn’t.
The Calypso Kings have been reduced to paupers now.
A similar situation had occurred when Clive Lloyd had brought a young side to India back in 1974-75. Remarkably every member of that side made a mark in the series which West Indies won 3-2.
Stars like Gordon Greenidge, Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts among others were born and they went on to etch their names in cricket history.
They came with a clear strategy to attack the spinners and they did in style with Lloyd leading the charge. Except for Holder, Roston Chase and Shannon Gabriel none of the players had anything to show. Shai Hope and Kraigg Braithwaite were below par but they have done well in the past.
These players, along with Kemar Roach, form the core of the West Indies side. Unfortunately, the others played too many shots and got out quickly. Test cricket is all about building an innings and in this regard, many of the top order failed miserably. Patience is the key and some of the West Indians were found lacking.
Holder and Chase were standouts in the rout. They played their hearts out but to no avail. Holder missed the first Test but he scored a fifty and took five wickets in the second Test.
Chase batted with great heart in both Tests, propping up the West Indies and taking the innings towards respectability. In statistical terms, the top order averaged only 17 in the Test series.
The bowlers did far better but fell short at crucial junctures. Gabriel bowled well without the support of the injured Roach. However, spinner Devendra Bishoo was a big disappointment.
There are many who are now questioning whether West Indies are actually worthy of their Test status. The rot has set in since a long time and things seem to get worse by the day. The disintegration of the West Indies can be blamed on both the board and the players alike.
Many of the top West Indian players prefer the shorter version and freelance in T20 leagues to make a quick buck. Many of the younger generation also prefer to take up basketball and go to the US to further their career.
Worse still for the West Indies is the politically-ridden short sighted Cricket West Indies. The players and the board do not share a cordial relationship and this has led to a lot of friction between them.
Poor selection, bias and banishments have forced the West Indies to field sub-standard teams over a long period. Many class players have had their career cut short by the biased board.
A fine batsman like Darren Bravo finds himself out of the team when he is needed most. Chris Gayle’s career has been cut short after a spat. So are Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and others.
West Indian cricket needs a major shake-up. Else they may find themselves out of big tournaments.
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#All views expressed in this column are those of the author and Pune365 does not necessarily subscribe to them.
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