(Sportsmax) After being invited to an emergency meeting by Cricket West Indies (CWI), legendary captain Sir Clive Lloyd says he is ready and willing to contribute in any way possible to help return the regional side to its former glory, especially in the longest format of the game.
The invitation, extended to Lloyd along with fellow greats Sir Vivian Richards and Brian Lara by CWI president Dr. Kishore Shallow, followed the West Indies’ historic collapse at Sabina Park, where they were bowled out for 27—the second-lowest score in Test cricket history—to lose the third and final Test against Australia and suffer a 3-0 series sweep.
“I’m always available to help in any way. How we can marry the ideas we have with what is necessary and have healthy discussion on the way we move forward, that’s what I’m thinking. It has been nearly 100 years since we have been playing top-class [Test] cricket, and we have to get it right,” Lloyd said in a statement to ESPNcricinfo.
“We have to examine all aspects of West Indies cricket from grassroots to the international level. Everything must be looked at closely and carefully. West Indies cricket is an institution. It has given so much to the people of this region, and we must do all we can to revive it,” he added.
The call for reflection comes at a time of deep concern for the regional game, particularly in Test cricket. Apart from debutant Brandon King and pacer Anderson Phillip, no West Indies batter managed to average over 20 during the three-match series. King’s score of 75 in Grenada was not only his career-best but also the highest individual score of the series from either team, which highlights just how dire the batting struggles were.
Head coach Daren Sammy, who recently assumed the Test role to go with his T20 and ODI duties, has publicly addressed the team’s inability to bat for long periods, as he indicated a shift toward trying to score quicker if occupying the crease remains elusive. But Lloyd believes a return to traditional batting virtues is essential.
“We need a couple of Larry Gomes, more batsmen like him. We need batsmen who put a heavy price on their wickets and, when they get in, look to stay in. There is nothing wrong with digging in and ‘batting ugly’. We have to find ways of fighting, occupying the crease, and staying in for long periods to wear down the bowlers. We have not been doing that,” Lloyd stated.
Lloyd, who captained the Windies to their famous 1975 ODI World Cup title—celebrated this year on its 50th anniversary—pointed out that poor pitch conditions might also be contributing to technical and mental deficiencies in batting. It is a point Sammy himself has raised in recent weeks.
“Obviously, the mental side of our game needs to improve. We have to go back to the basics. We have to look at schools’ cricket, club cricket, and first-class cricket—are we playing enough? We also have to look at the pitches… How are we preparing them, and how they are playing,” Lloyd noted.
The Test team has struggled in the World Test Championship, finishing eighth in all three cycles since its inception. Their road does not get any easier, with away series against India and New Zealand to come in the current WTC cycle.
