Preview: What To Expect From West Indies in 2017!

Dec 31, 2018 at 1:56 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
Preview: What To Expect From West Indies in 2017!

The year 2016 was a mixed bag for West Indies cricket. While problems still persist in governance and rude behaviour from some senior players tarnished the image of the board and West Indies cricket but the blow was softened on-field by juniors, women and men’s T20 team winning their respective ICC tournaments.

West Indies would like to sort out issues which they dug on their own. One way they can do is by having a futuristic approach for the betterment of cricket in islands.

Here is what a fan of West Indies cricket would like his team to see in the year 2017:

MOU between players and the board – The first and the foremost thing that a fan would like or want is a meeting between the West Indies cricket board and its players. Management and players are the arteries and veins of cricket and the game cannot run smoothly unless the management and the players are on the same page, obeying rules laid out.

The opposite was the case in the year 2016 where there was a competition between players and the WICB to put down the opposition. Some bizarre decisions made by the board added to the woes. The year started with the board forcing the veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul to retire. Then they dropped the world cup winning captain Daren Sammy from the T20I squad, pulled out Darren Bravo from tri-series, offered a low wage contract to players and much more.

As a board, it’s the duty of a board to have a talk with a player to sort out the issues but this has not been the case here. The first thing that players and the board should do is to table a meeting, spell out the issues and then find a common solution for the betterment of West Indies cricket and bounce back in international cricket.

Some sense from the players – The second thing what we should expect is players who are contracted to the board show some sense. Marlon Samuels sitting with his legs on the table during the post-match presser of T20 World Cup, Chris Gayle involving in a BBL controversy right at the start of the year 2016, Darren Bravo calling the Board President idiot. West Indies players have also been the main factor for the conflict between the board and the players and it would be better if players show some restraint.

If players had shown sort of sense and would have had a one to one talk, then the things could have been different. If a player of any other board would have sat with his legs on the table, the board would have immediately banned that player but Samuels escaped any sort of action from the board. We expect some sense of maturity from players as well to solve the dispute between WICB and its players.

Better team selection – Team selection, as has been the case for past 5-7 years, was the talk of the town in West Indies cricket again last year. Selectors made some surprising selections this year which wrote the script to the failure of West Indies as a team.

From appointing Karlos Braithwaite as T20I captain to retaining a failed Jason Holder to the post of the captain, West Indies selectors put every foot wrong post-World Cup T20I 2016.

To be honest it is not new as in this was the case even in year 2015, when the former great, Sir Garfield Sobers shed tears for the poor state of cricket in the country and till now, even after a period of one and a half year, the selectors have not taken a single step for the further the betterment of the team.

In the year 2017, we can expect the selectors to work smart and select the best team. Though due to the disgusting behaviour of the board, they have few options left but they can start with a clean slate in the new year and then work for the better future of cricket so as to help West Indies cricket get some competitiveness.

Maintaining a balance between T20 leagues and international cricket –

If you are a keen follower of T20 leagues around the world, you might see more West Indies players in those leagues than any other country except the host.

The elusive T20 leagues played around the world and the monetary benefits which come along with it have forced the players to keep aside their international commitments and go for those leagues.

Though WICB’s callousness has been one big reason but players should also learn that if Board is ready to take one step ahead, then they should take two steps. If board offers players respect, a spot in the team (based on performance), a good money for their run and the trust, then we can see players give preference to West Indies cricket.

Sorting out this mess may take a while but 2017 might be a year when one some work being done so West Indies can prepare for 2019 World Cup, so as to show that they are indeed the ‘Champions’.

Involvement of former players in the decision-making process – Involvement of former players like Sir Viv Richards, Brian Lara, Ian Bishop and other greats in running the administration can help this team to get back on track. Despite Indian team being a powerhouse in world cricket, the apex court of the country has forced involvement of former cricketers in running the board. Such is the case. If this can happen in BCCI then why not WICB?

Surely, as a fan, we can expect the former players getting involved in the board’s decision-making. Some bold decisions will be required during the process but if this happens, then West Indies can hope for a bright future.

Related Article
Chris Gayle, Sohail Tanvir And S Sreesanth Will Captain Their Teams In The Second Season Of The American Premier League
Chris Gayle, Sohail Tanvir And S Sreesanth Will Captain Their Teams In The Second Season Of The American Premier League

Dec 9, 2023, 4:48 PM


IND vs AUS: They Deserve To Make A Call On Themselves – Chris Gayle Shares His Opinion On Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli’s Future With The Indian Team
IND vs AUS: They Deserve To Make A Call On Themselves – Chris Gayle Shares His Opinion On Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli’s Future With The Indian Team

Nov 26, 2023, 4:33 PM


IPL 2023: Chris Gayle Reveals His Favorite Batting Partner In IPL And Its Not His RCB Teammate AB de Villiers
IPL 2023: Chris Gayle Reveals His Favorite Batting Partner In IPL And Its Not His RCB Teammate AB de Villiers

Apr 16, 2023, 4:41 PM


IPL 2023: Rajasthan Royals Do This Often, I’m Against It – Chris Gayle On Promoting Ravichandran Ashwin In The Batting Order
IPL 2023: Rajasthan Royals Do This Often, I’m Against It – Chris Gayle On Promoting Ravichandran Ashwin In The Batting Order

Apr 13, 2023, 10:20 AM


IPL 2023: AB de Villiers Predicts IPL 2023 Winner, Leaves Out Royal Challengers Bangalore
IPL 2023: AB de Villiers Predicts IPL 2023 Winner, Leaves Out Royal Challengers Bangalore

Apr 6, 2023, 4:25 PM


IPL 2023: There’s Going To Be Carnage For Bowlers – Chris Gayle On Virat Kohli’s Return To Form
IPL 2023: There’s Going To Be Carnage For Bowlers – Chris Gayle On Virat Kohli’s Return To Form

Apr 5, 2023, 4:39 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner