(ABC Sport)-Former Test skipper Carl Hooper has vented his frustration at the state of West Indian cricket after their latest humbling defeat, calling for urgent administrative changes at the top.
Hooper also warned that after nearly 20 years of decline, worse was to come for the one-time rulers of world cricket.
The West Indies lost 6-39 in 18.5 overs on day four to crash to a 419-run loss to Australia at Adelaide Oval to seal a 2-0 series loss — the heaviest defeat in West Indies Test history in terms of runs.
The tourists’ second innings total of 77 was the equal-seventh lowest total in West Indies Test history.
“No, I don’t think we’ve hit rock bottom because every time I think we have, we keep going lower,” Hooper told ABC after the Test.
“It’s getting more and more embarrassing — I’m hurt today.
“I’ve never played in a West Indies side that has been bowled out for under 100. Just never.
“I mean your personal pride means you go out and fight.
“We’re not fighting to qualify in major tournaments. How much lower can we go?
The demoralising series in Australia follows the T20 World Cup earlier this year where the West Indies failed to hold a high enough ranking to qualify automatically for the main draw, and were beaten by Scotland and Ireland to fail to qualify for the Super 12.
Hooper captained West Indies in 22 Tests in the early 2000s.
The spinning all-rounder scored more than 5,000 runs and took more than 100 wickets and 100 catches in both Tests and ODIs in a 16-year international career.
Over his career he went from part of a dominant West Indies side to one that struggled for big periods.
However, he told ABC Sport the current side was at a lower ebb than his era ever had and pointed the finger firmly at administrators.
“When we were dominant, you hardly knew the directors. Today you’ve got 16 directors making cricketing decisions,” Hooper said.
“Since 1993 we’ve struggled and certainly judging from the results, there’s no policies or systems that have been implemented that is changing the downwards course we’re on.”
Hooper said administration changes were the only thing that hadn’t been tried yet.
“We’ve changed captains, we’ve changed personnel, we’ve changed coaches — [it] hasn’t worked,” he said.
“So maybe let’s go a little bit higher and get people in these positions that can lead us in the right direction.”
