The decline of the West Indies is a sorry sight for all cricket fans. While most cricketing powerhouses are not usually particularly popular, the BCCI being megalomaniacs and the Australians being as loathsome as ever, the West Indies were always popular and often everyone's second team. For the past 25 years the decline in West Indies cricket has been constant and there is seemingly no sign of things improving.
Where did it go wrong for the West Indies? T20 cricket surely hasn't helped as many of their stars don't really seem committed to international cricket, but honestly the rot had already set in well before T20 appeared.
Is there any hope for a revival? Their bowlers aren't helped by low and slow wickets, fan interest for anything other than T20s seems minimal, and their batsmen struggle with both pace and spin.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
Completely pathetic showing against India in the first test, most of the batsmen simply threw their wicket away.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
I don't even get to watch meaningful cricket anymore. It's always on BT Sports but I do miss seeing the west indies. They have a good crop of young fast bowlers but at the same time, they aren't helped by the world cricket situation. T20 cricket is effecting them massively as they can't field their best side. Narine still makes their best ODI side, let alone T20's.
In the COVID years and before, they pushed England hard, and New Zealand, and appeared to be experiencing a revival. Joshua De Silvia appeared, Blackwood was scoring runs and Joseph, Seals and Holder appeared to be a very potent test line up. You had Chemar Holder, too, who had a yard. What ever happened to Oshane Thomas? There's a lot of questions without much closure. I don't think things will ever get back to the way they were. Too much damage has taken place within Caribbean cricket and the world of cricket, and its landscape, is totally different to what it was in the 80's, 90's and early to mid 2000's even.
Shame really, because they have some wonderful talent. Darren Sammy is a born leader and I still think he can have a positive effect on the team, but he'll need time, patience and a lot of support.
They've pretty much exhausted all their options too, in terms of personell. They've had Ambrose, Walsh, Clive Lloyd, Haynes, Greenidge and many more within the coaching structure at some point, but nothing has changed.
West Indies have certainly shown that bringing in past legends doesn't guarantee improvement. Most of their coaching appointments have been pretty decent, the players simply don't have the talent and passion anymore it seems.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
Obviously the rain helped, but a better performance from the West Indies in the second test.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
Todays first ODI against India highlighted one of the biggest issues in the West Indies. The quality of pitches. It seems nobody can prepare a good wicket anymore anywhere in the region.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
Old rash dawg got some spanking, must have veered off the straight path. All you need to do is stick to line and length yo. Just another guy who’s had a run in with old Garry Ballance. Absolute turnip that guy.
Liam Livingston from Barrow in Furness in England. Had a few pros on the club circuit in that neck of the woods, Shane bond, Andre nel and Fawad Alam (after he’d played for Pakistan 😂 )
Hook a brother up with some mbanje from the flat above Battys on Rollo Street if Wez and Mavuta ever get a club gig there.
Shamar Joseph was immense, he has truly been plucked from obscurity. A year ago he was working as a security guard. He comes a small town in Guyana which only got internet in 2018, makes you wonder why Zimbabwe can never unearth some diamond in the rough, at least on the bowling front. I truly hope this is the start of some sustainable growth from the West Indies. Let's hope Shamar Joseph isn't lost to the mindless fluff of T20 leagues. These young guys seem quite passionate about test cricket but it is hard to resist easy money. Along with Shamar, some of the young batsmen look like they have talent also - Athanaze, Hodge, McKenzie, etc.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
Windies desperately need a revival. their white ball form has been abysmal as well. This result + the Test series win vs England last year are pretty massive results.
Bangladesh cricket fanatic, observer of all others.