After failing to qualify for the One-Day International World Cup for the very first time, the West Indies had hit their lowest point.
The two-time defending champions were eliminated from contention for the championship tournament in India after suffering a crushing seven-wicket loss at the hands of Scotland in their Super Six match in the qualification tournament in Zimbabwe on Saturday. The championship tournament will begin on October 5 and will be contested in India.
Those who have lived through the heyday of Caribbean cricket must have felt a great deal of anguish at the sight of their national team being left off the van to the World Cup.
The illustrious Gordon Greenidge and Joel Garner both know what it’s like to lift the World Cup aloft in their hands. They were a member of Clive Lloyd’s undefeated team that won the trophy in 1979 by defeating England at Lord’s Stadium.
“See! These days, I don’t watch nearly as much cricket as I used to, particularly the matches that use the white ball. A loss for the West Indies used to cause a lot of pain in the past, but now days it doesn’t sting nearly as much since our standards have slipped over the years.
However, it is difficult to conceive of a World Cup that does not include the West Indies. When the PTI reached out to the famed pair, the former coach of Bangladesh, Greenidge, responded by saying “We have no more depth to hit.”
The viewpoint of the former West Indies opener, who is now 72 years old, was reflected in Garner’s statements.
We are not the same people that we used to be, right? When I was younger, there was a great deal of pride associated with playing for the West Indies. It served as an inspiration for us. T20 competitions are becoming more appealing to younger players, who are now dominating the sport. Garner said that there is no blame to be placed on them since everyone is looking about for safety.
“Our generation, too, did not receive an excessive amount of money; the majority of it came from County cricket.” However, cricket players of today have access to a wide variety of revenue streams, and they certainly cannot be faulted for pursuing these opportunities. “The pride that comes with playing for the West Indies needs to be brought back,” said the Barbadian, who is now 70 years old.
Young cricketers in the Caribbean are believed to have no one to look up to since past players are not actively engaged in the growth of cricket in the region, which is something that has been mentioned quite a few times.
“You can find us around. We are eager to be of assistance. However, there has to be a clear delineation of responsibilities in order to achieve the level of clarity that is necessary for effective communication. My impression is that there is no dearth of talented individuals in the West Indies.
However, in order to maintain the young players’ level of motivation and concentration, we must a good structure. According to Garner, “It is an effort that needs to be made by all of the stakeholders; it cannot just be made by one section or one person.”
The great fast bowler continued by saying, “It has to be kept in mind that West Indies cricket is bigger than individuals – look into you; make an honest effort,”