Like every West Indian cricket fan, I felt the pain of our recent Test defeat to Australia.
The result hurts deeply, not only because of how we lost, but because of what West Indies cricket has always represented to our people: pride, identity, and possibility.
There will be some sleepless nights ahead for many of us, including the players, who I know feel this loss just as heavily. But while disappointment is natural, we must not allow this moment to define our journey. We are in a rebuilding phase, steadily investing in the next generation, and reigniting the spirit that has long made West Indies cricket a force in the world.
Progress is rarely straightforward. It takes time, perseverance, and belief, especially in our most difficult moments. The road ahead will test us, but I have faith in the talent and commitment of our players when they apply themselves. We have already seen encouraging signs, particularly with the ball. Our batters are keen, but now must be even more deliberate as they work to improve.
Now is not the time to turn away. Now is the time to stand even closer as a people. These are the moments that shape us.
As an immediate step, I have advised the Chair of the Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee to convene an emergency meeting to review the recent test series against Australia, particularly the final match.
To strengthen the discussions, I have extended invitations to three of our greatest batsmen ever: Sir Clive Lloyd, Sir Vivian Richards, and Brian Lara. They will join past greats Dr. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dr. The Most Honourable Desmond Haynes, Ian Bradshaw, who already serve on the committee.
This engagement is not ceremonial. These are men who helped define our golden eras, and their perspectives will be invaluable as we shape the next phase of our cricket development. We intend for this gathering to result in tangible, actionable recommendations.
Consistent with my message over the last weeks, this is a moment that calls for collaboration, not division. We need everyone on board: fans, players, coaches, legends, and administrators, if we are to truly move forward.
There is much work to be done. But we must do it with purpose, and we must do it together.
Is that what you call these guys “Cricketers”. can’t bowl, bat, field, catch you name it. But at least they earn well, loose, win, loose they have nice jewellery.
When Darren Sammy said and average of 25 was nothing to scream about Lochart Sebastien supported him,the were targeting Kavem Hodge and Alice Athanaze two Dominicans.Lochart never played for west indies,while Sammy averaged 21 for west indies,Lochart averaged 32 in regional cricket.After the third test match no batsman on the west indies team except Braithwaite average more than Kavem Hodge.It is the same bs and attitude Sebastien had in Dominican cricket why cricket is slowly dying,those two men are hatchet men,puppets and B**** H**** servants.
When the past players mentioned give recommendations, will they be acted upon by the board?
For so long, we have had no system or structure in place to develop our talented players.
The quality of our pitches, is another issue.Why can’t we have proper pitches? Why do we have a curator being paid money and we have so many bad pitches? Either Travis Head or Cameron Green said, scoring 30 runs on that track at Sabina, is like scoring 100runs. West Indies was lucky to score 27 runs.Had it been later, they would scored 10runs or less, and its NOT because of Sammy. They just don’t have enough batting skills.
Dismiss all the island representatives on the board, they are a waste of time. Develop indoor facilities, so even when it’s raining, the players can be engaged.
We need 12 very young batters (18 years maximum), in a camp, stationed in one country, schooled and taught proper batting technique, expose them to overseas conditions, etc.In about 5 years we must have about 3 or 4 real…
We also need to examine the reason(s) for changing the team that defeated Australia on their home ground and also investigate the person(s) who brought up the idea of making that change.
@AEB
That was on a different pitch in a different country, and it was not pink ball day and night.
West Indies cricket is always one step forward and three steps backwards. No wonder Windies cricket is in such a mess. What was the point in leaving out promising young players like Athanaze and Hodge who showed a lot of promise, and bringing back players who have been tried and tested and continue to fail? This is real shambles. Sammy and the rest of the management team have to go. WICBC have to look further afield and appoint international coaches who have a better understanding of the game and better tacticians than Sammy and co.
West Indies cricket is always one step forward and three steps backwards. No wonder Windies cricket is in such a mess. What was the point in leaving out promising young players like Athanaze and Hodge who showed a lot of promise, and bringing back players who have been tried and tested and continue to fail? This is real shambles. Sammy and the rest of the management team have to go. WICBC have to look further afield and appoint international coaches who have a better understanding of the game than Sammy and co.
Athanaze and Hodge also have part of the blame, for not being able to score runs at our First Class level, or even when selected on the ‘A’ team.
So its not just a Sammy thing. Its about a team with no batsmen.
Those who were not selected just saved the embarrassment, because they are just as bad or even worse.
Have you checked Hodge’s age? .. what is your definition of ‘young’?
Simpley put, the West Indies went to Las Vegas, stood at gaming table, played and came up craps after their recent wholesale helter skelter line-up changes.
Dropping both Athanaze and Hodge was a knee jerk reaction with their replacements looking lost at sea even for fellas who grew surrounded by the Atlantic ocean and Caribbean sea in deep and Shallow waters.
Not to be picky, but ultimately Anderson, Brathwaite, Hope, King and Warrican made very little contribution with the bat in either innings.
“We are in a rebuilding phase,” West Indies seem to be stuck in that gear of rebuilding, when will it end. Sammy has proven he is not the man for the job and needs to go immediately. He got rid of players who would have done better than his selections. The present West Indies batsmen have proved to be a failure.
THIS IS A PURE EMBARRASSEMENT, THE ENTIRE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND COACHING STAFF NEED TO BE FIRED FORTHWITH
Sammy was given too much power as head coach and only selector . He dropped Arthanaze and Hodge because according to him they were not good enough to play the brand of cricket he wanted to bring to the West Indies. Now that he and his brand failed miserably and embarrassingly, I am now calling on Darren Sammy to resign immediately and should he fail to do so by the end of today I call on Dr Shallow to immediately fire Darren Sammy from all duties of the test team
The problem of West Indies cricket has always been the top fighting for Power. This is the worst management I’ve seen in West indies cricket history. You all need to go
the West Indies do not have people that bat well against good bowling, pace or spin. But the bowlers are good.
Good doctor, please allow us cricket fans to grieve and vent. We West Indian cricket fans will cry us a river, brood, lament but we will get over this recent fiasco in due time as we have many times before.
At the end of the day we have real life matters to tend to and bigger fish to fry. Yes cricket is a good and fun distraction; however the top tier players make a pretty decent paycheck playing a game, albeit an entertaining and tactically intriguing one.
No need for the head of Cricket West Indies to play psycho analyst or grief counselor. At the end of the day my main focus is figuring out how to put food on my table, pay my bills and do what I can to maintain and survive in an increasingly crazier and inflationary world.
West Indies cricket has been in the doldrums for close to 40 years now. While we were world champions, we failed to put our cricketing infrastructure in place, to keep spawning young talented players. The other cricketing countries started investing $$$$$$$ into their cricket using all sorts of technologies.
Our humiliating defeat yesterday is not surprising. As i keep saying we have no top notch batters in the West Indies. Our highest ranked batter is Craigg Brathwaite. Australia is #1 test team with 4 world class bowlers. Did West Indians expect a victory? The solution to our batting problem does not lie in the present crop of players. I urge Cricket West indies to train coaches and invest heavily in our under 15, 17 and 19 players. The current set of players are ALL stuck in their old ways, and batting coaches can’t do anyting with them. Do i blame Sammy? NO. I blame our First Class competition that cant produce batters that can transition properly into test cricket.
MEME
Shallow, boss you busy fighting Ralph for power in St. Vincent so that you can sell passport so is not west indies cricket ulyou have time for.
It was madness to give Sammy that much power, that structure has to change immediately and the person/s who made that decision must go as well.
Sammy MUST NEVER be allowed close to any dressing room again.
@kingman
Sammy has nothing to do with the poor state of West Indies cricket. West Indies never had good batting since after king Lara, Gayle, etc left. Maybe 25 years, no good batsman.
So know your cricket.
@Kingman
I hear you.
You mean when Sammy go, the problem we have with our cricket is over. That is so easy eh.😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄.
I had a good laugh.
@Kingman
Your comment on Sammy is both nonsensical and stupid. Do you have better batters in the region than those who played? Other than the bashing, where is your solution? Stol trying to bring diwn people . All the other batters must be very HAPPY they did not play, because they would have done worse.