Caribbean Cricket News has existed on Substack since June 2020 bringing some of the best writing you can find on West Indies cricket.

However the time has come to elevate the coverage of the offer. With major cricket news outlets failing in their duty to cover our region and many fans succumbing to fake news aggregators who have no wider interest in our game beyond clicks.

I’ve recognised the need to expand operations at Caribbean Cricket News and bring more content, more regularly and in a better format.

Over the past few months I have been in discussion with CounterPress to move across to their platform. It believes in quality first sports journalism for communities and perfectly fits the ethos of what Caribbean Cricket News is all about.

You can read the press release below and subscribe here

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Official press release

Caribbean cricket fans are among the most passionate in the world, yet coverage of cricket in the region has been all too shallow, with precious few journalists dedicated to the sport.

In 2019, the Caribbean Cricket Podcast set out to fix that, and now, six action-packed years later, they’re stepping up to the crease with a dedicated platform powered by CounterPress.

Founded by Machel Hewitt and Santokie Nagulendran, the podcast has established itself as a powerful, knowledgeable, and reliable source of West Indies cricket information. With content bursting at the seams, they felt it was time to push new boundaries.

Welcome to Caribbean Cricket News, an exclusive news subscription service covering everything from the national team’s trials and tribulations to the minutiae of inter-island competition.

Early sign-ups are now open ahead of the formal launch in mid-September, so put your name on the list and be the first through the door.

Hewitt said: “We found ourselves bemoaning the lack of cricket coverage in our region, so we created the Caribbean Cricket Podcast to fill the void. It has grown to encompass deeply insightful audio and visual content, and now is the right time to bring that level of detail and rigour to our written content as well.”

CCN becomes the fifth outlet to launch on CounterPress, a new digital publishing platform that empowers journalists, reporters, and content creators to earn money while providing a product of value to their communities.

CounterPress co-founder Sam Morshead said: “Machel has a real determination to create a service for fans of Caribbean cricket that is so obviously lacking in the current media ecosystem.”

“He has made admirable strides with the Caribbean Cricket Podcast over the past few years, and we at CounterPress are committed to helping him expand his reach, enhance his product, and ensure this excellent outlet has a profitable and sustainable future.”

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On the island of Anglesey, just off the north-west corner of Wales, lies a village called Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. With fifty-eight letters, this is the longest place name in Europe, and it contains eleven Ls. That’s a lot of Ls, but it is still three fewer than the consecutive number of Ls four West Indies representative sides achieved between May 26^th and June 10^th, 2025. It takes longer to say the name of that village than it took to concede those defeats.

In England, the men’s white ball side suffered six losses against England across the ODI and T20 formats to finish the series 0-6, while the women’s team took four losses against England’s women in both the ODI and T20 formats. Like the men’s side, the women’s team ended their English tour with a 0-6 record.

Those looking for positive news from back home would not find any. In St. Lucia, the men’s A side, featuring most of the players called up to face Australia, lost both unofficial tests against South Africa A. Those losses were made more embarrassing as they came against a genuine South African second eleven, with the first team preparing for the World Test Championship final in London. In those sixteen days, they also lost the final 50-over game, completing a clean sweep for the touring side.

The fourteenth and final loss came from the Academy team in Antigua, as they were bowled out twice in 102 overs to lose by 75 runs in a four-day match against Sri Lanka’s Emerging Players side.

When the modern history of West Indies cricket gets written, those sixteen days will go down as one of the lowest ebbs. Every day for a little over two weeks, no matter the format, fans would wake up to another batting collapse or read about bowlers being smashed to all parts. It was a Groundhog Day of despair.

As if things weren’t bad enough on the pitch, there were off-pitch issues too. The men’s white ball side were missing players due to IPL commitments, while their English counterparts had brought their IPL players home for the series. In the women’s side, Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor picked up injuries, which ruled them out of parts of the England tour. We saw yet more allegations of financial corruption within the TTCB. And, to compound everything, on June 10^th, Nicholas Pooran announced his retirement from West Indies duties to focus on franchise cricket.

Witnessing defeat after defeat in such short succession was a painful experience, but it was an important cold-water shock to a region and diaspora in denial.

West Indies defeats inevitably come with finger-pointing, cuss-outs, insularity, and nationalism, alongside calls to drop players and fire the coaches, as if that would fix all the problems. Perhaps you can be forgiven for this shortsightedness when looking at only one team, but when over fifty players in three different men’s sides are not performing at the same time, it suggests the problems run deeper.

It is impossible to hide from the fact that domestic competitions and development structures are not fit for purpose. Players in the region are simply not learning the necessary skills to compete at the international level.

This, somewhat strangely, is where we must give some credit to Cricket West Indies. These losses are a result of CWI trying to do something about the deficiencies in regional domestic competitions and overall player development. Players can’t develop within the region alone, so they need to play against teams from outside to learn the essential skills they’re missing, even if it means taking some big defeats in the process.

It’s not the first time CWI have tried this. Between October and December 2023, five representative teams played at the same time. In the space of six weeks, the men’s first team played England at home in ODI and T20 matches, the men’s A side played a red-ball series in South Africa, and the Academy played Ireland in a multi-format series in Antigua. Meanwhile, the women’s team toured Australia while the women’s A side toured Pakistan.

CWI’s strategy does have its merits, as it takes players out of their domestic comfort zone and challenges them to perform at a higher level. However, it comes at a cost.

The money required to send players and their support staff on tour is eye-watering, especially in a region where cricket is already expensive to run. The touring cost to send men’s and women’s teams to Australia in 2023 was reportedly $2M, with a financial return to CWI of $0. With no ICC tournament or international tours from England or India coming to the region over the next few years, the current model of sending players overseas is going to become difficult to sustain financially.

One way to reduce both costs and West Indies defeats would be for regional boards to do more development work with the money they are given from CWI. That money could be invested in coaching and facilities to make sure players are playing at a higher standard domestically. Our emerging talents should not have to wait until they get into the West Indies set-up to learn basic skills at the international level.

Instead of blaming CWI for the run of defeats, our time would be better spent asking territory boards what they are doing to develop cricketers in the region. Let’s not forget that the last West Indies test batters to play more than five tests and average over 40 were Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who made their test debuts in 2000, some 25 years ago. Times have changed, cricket globally has evolved, and coaching in the region needs to evolve too if the West Indies are to have any chance of reversing their current decline.

Fans already know that the financial imbalances within the game are making it more difficult for them to compete in the international and franchise arena. But it doesn’t stop territorial boards from getting the basic aspects of coaching, fitness, and development facilities right.

CWI clearly can’t fix everything, nor should they be expected to, but it’s time for change. Otherwise, West Indies representative teams' win/loss records will continue to have more Ls than that Welsh village.

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So the time has come, has it? Roston ‘Thanos’ Chase has become the Test captain of the West Indies. As a player, Chase has had moments of brilliance, including match-saving knocks, but leadership is a different beast. And considering his Test batting average is just 26, was his appointment justified?

That’s a polarising discussion, so perhaps it is wiser to consider whether there were better options. Six candidates were interviewed for the role, but five of them had baggage.

• JDS had just been dropped in Pakistan.

• Imlach captained a side that reportedly ball-tampered their way to a 4-day win.

• John Campbell was fresh off a drug-related ban.

• Greaves hadn’t done enough to be considered a serious successor.

• Warrican had never been a nailed-on pick.

And that, folks, left us with Roston Chase. It’s not his fault he was the last man standing; it’s the system’s fault for failing to groom undisputed leaders. When his appointment was announced, Cricket West Indies also dropped a handy little rubric outlining how Chase and his deputy, Warrican, were chosen. The judgment criteria:

• Leadership.

• Respect Within the Team

• Cricket Knowledge

• Personal Conduct

• Media and Communication Skills

• Psychometric Evaluation

Notice anything missing in that list? Yes, ability. The board didn’t even pretend that the captain’s performance mattered, and that’s telling. It sends the message that the candidates were all performing equally unspectacularly, so they just picked the safest personality. That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Out of curiosity, let’s dive into the selection committee’s criteria and see if they really matter for a West Indies Test captain. I will swerve Leadership and Respect Within the Team as I’m not in the dressing room with these guys, so my scope for understanding the true nature of their professional relationships is limited. But the other criteria certainly bear scrutiny.

Cricket Knowledge

This feels like a weak criterion, and since the online reports were vague, I can only assume ‘Cricket Knowledge’ refers to the literal rules of the game. If that is the case, I am confused about the priority given to it in the decision-making process.

Perhaps I’m naive here, but surely every professional cricketer is knowledgeable about the rules and field placements of the sport? In a region rich with cricketing culture, if that’s the bar we’re setting, what are we even doing here?

Chase has played almost 50 Tests and over 100 First-Class matches, so it’s safe to say he's a seasoned pro who knows the game. But so did Jason Holder. So did Kraigg Brathwaite. So does Joshua Da Silva. This criterion feels more like a default expectation rather than a reason to hand over the captaincy.

Then again, could ‘Cricket Knowledge’ be code for something else, like a player’s understanding and compliance with the politics at play behind the scenes? Imagination can run away with you when you start to think like that.

Personal Conduct

Now, this one I can get behind. In recent years, the West Indies’ landscape has been ripe with spats, from players making sneak-diss Instagram posts to bowlers marching off the pitch in anger. It is understandable that CWI would crave a safe and non-controversial figurehead, and I can see Roston Chase fitting that mould quite well.

His performances have sometimes been lacklustre, but Chase’s ‘keep your head down and do your job’ attitude has helped him navigate the minefield of scandals and explosions that have sidetracked some of his teammates. In my view, he is a cool yet not quite laid-back figure on the field; always ready to jump in when needed, even if he might not take the wicket.

Media and Communication Skills

This is where I catch kicks. Are we saying Chase was one of the best candidates here? After losing the second T20i against Sri Lanka in 2024, Roston took to the mic and gave responses that ranged from competent and funny to blunt and baffling.

When asked what went wrong, his answer was: “I guess the guys were scared to put us back on a good wicket after losing the first game, so I think they prepared the wicket in their favour.” And in response to a question about how the team fared against spin bowling, Chase implied that while they’re comfortable facing spin, the Sri Lankan opposition were bowling spin with pace, which is why they underperformed.

Those answers are farcical to me. In one, he accuses the Lankans of pitch doctoring, and in the other, he says pacey spin was their downfall. Overall, Chase’s interview lacked depth and personal insight. There was minimal elaboration on strategic decisions or individual performances, which could have offered a more engaging perspective for the audience. This highlights why I find it difficult to believe that Media Communication was genuinely used in this captaincy assessment.

Roston’s communication style is usually steady and uncontroversial, which aligns with the expectations for a team leader, but to inspire confidence and connect more deeply with fans and stakeholders, a more dynamic and insightful approach in media interactions would be beneficial.

On the bright side, media handling seems like a skill anyone can learn, so I hope Chase gets some training early in his captaincy.

Psychometric Evaluation

I am confident Chase rated highly here. In case you are unaware, a psychometric evaluation is supposed to gauge a person’s ability to stay calm under pressure, manage different personalities, and think clearly in chaos.

Given Chase’s cool persona, this test feels like it falls into his wheelhouse. Of course, we don’t know how the test was conducted. For all we know, it asked him to assemble IKEA furniture against the clock while eating doubles with heavy pepper. Or did he have to pick between Dancehall and Soca? If either of those were the case, then fair play to Roston for keeping his cool.

Chase's Cricketing Highs

Before we get too cynical, let’s not forget, Chase has delivered when it mattered. His test career highs include:

• An unforgettable eight-wicket haul vs England.

• Gritty hundreds when the top order crumbled.

• Spells where his golden arm broke stubborn partnerships.

He’s not flashy, but he’s had clutch moments, and that counts for something.

Final Thoughts

This appointment feels less like a bold new direction and more like a risk-averse choice by a board wary and weary of negative headlines. Roston Chase might embody safe hands, but whether those hands can steer West Indies cricket out of its rut is a different question.

What worries me is not Chase himself, he’s a fine team man, but what this choice says about the state of West Indies cricket. If we’re at a point where leadership is awarded not for excellence but for the absence of red flags, then maybe the issues run deeper than the person wearing the armband.

We hope for the best, but I think we should prepare for another frustrating chapter.

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West Indies’ cricket has had a busy few months, but will the cuss outs, the reforms, the tampering scandal, or the women’s World Cup qualifying collapse move domestic cricket forward and lead to better results? The answer, in the short term, is no. Not today, not next month, and not next year. But why?

First, let’s have a recap of recent events, starting with the four-day West Indies Championship, where day-night matches were introduced for all teams. We also saw the initial rounds being played with Kookaburra balls while the latter rounds reverted to the more familiar Dukes ball.

Then there was the debut of the Breakout League, intended to bring players on the fringes of the region to the forefront and give them a chance to test their skills against unfamiliar opposition. A few ones-to-watch emerged, including Micah McKenzie, an 18-year-old leg spinner who took 12 wickets in 6 matches at an average of 11.33, bettering his impressive record at the 2023 Cool and Smooth tournament in Antigua.

With Darren Sammy growing into his role as the new all-format head coach for the senior men’s teams, changes were to be expected. And so it came to pass, with Shai Hope usurping Rovman Powell as T20 captain, and Roston Chase selected to replace Kraigg Brathwaite, who stepped back from the Test captaincy to focus on his batting.

Then women’s cricket fell into the crosshairs when the West Indies failed to qualify for the World Cup. Not even one of Hayley Matthews’ best knocks of her career could save them. Matthews scored 114* from 113 deliveries, but the rest of the batting line-up fell apart, handing the game to their opponents, Scotland. This collapse felt eerily similar to the men’s traumatic 374 against the Netherlands in their World Cup qualifier in 2023.

The drama didn’t end there, as a trio of Guyana Harpy Eagles players were charged with breaching CWI’s code of conduct. Kevlon Anderson and Veerasammy Permaul were accused of ball-tampering in their final match against Trinidad and Tobago, while Ronaldo Alimohamed was charged with throwing an object in a dangerous manner. But the story did not end there, as the GCB released a statement of support for Kevlon and Permaul, who deny their charges and are seeking to clear their names with the help of the Guyanese High Court.

Outside of the cricket field, CWI’s finances seem remarkably steady. Their recent report of revenue totalling US$88 million was due in no small part to the 2024 World Cup. After expenses were taken into account, they announced a profit of US$22 million, which marks a 60% increase from the previous fiscal year. The CWI estimates the World Cup generated more than US$1.6 billion in revenue across the Caribbean region. This will be music to the ears of Kishore Shallow, who has made significant progress in improving the internal structure of CWI and has been re-elected for his second term as President, with Chris Dehring of Jamaica appointed as his new Chief Executive.

And finally, five years after they were first suggested, the Wehby proposals of government reform are beginning to take shape and will continue to do so for several years. An attempt by the GCB and the BCB to stall the process of approval was not successful.

So what do these events have in common? Some were designed to move cricket in the region forward, while others have inflicted reputational damage, but all of them offer the chance for growth. Will that chance be taken? Not if the current development setup remains in place.

Nurturing and development go hand-in-hand in sports, though we rarely give thought to the relationship between the two. In order to develop, players need an environment that truly nurtures their talent. This is done by incentivising and rewarding improvement, and helping players to learn from mistakes and gain consistency. But the quality of the nurturing environment is all-important if players are going to reach their potential. This is where Caribbean Cricket falls down.

Buy me a coffee

Year after year, the same skills issues and lack of problem-solving are seen. Players can’t bat spin, and they’re not able to bat for time either. That’s because the environment where they were nurtured didn’t allow them to grow and develop those skills. They were surrounded by poor facilities, as well as poor coaching and opposition, and we cannot expect someone who’s been through a system that has failed to properly nurture their talent to excel, particularly at the international level.

Why are the top three wicket-takers of the Championship mostly left-arm finger spinners? It’s not because we have a trailblazing spin coaching camp that incentivises the youth players to develop their skills, but because the batsmen were never allowed to refine their skills on a technical and analytical level against them. It’s not a talent issue per se, but a fundamentally systematic one.

Then there’s the question of merit. Merit describes the qualities of an individual to perform a specific task in a way that is consistently better than their peers, making them deserving of precedence in their role. With this description in mind, as a simple thought experiment, let me ask: Is there a single batsman on the West Indies’ Test side based on merit alone?

People in the region wonder why a player like Amir Jangoo had his first-class debut in 2017 at only 19 years old, but didn’t play his first ODI until seven years later in 2024, scoring a century on his debut to chase an unlikely score of 321 against Bangladesh. Look closely and you will notice that many of the current top run-scorers and wicket-takers in the region only started performing in their late twenties. The system didn’t prepare them to succeed at a younger age, and it took time for them to develop their game on their own. But while young West Indies players might develop their game to a level where they stand out against their domestic peers, with little to no exposure to international cricket, it’s a gamble to play them on merit against better sides.

So, if performing well in the domestic championship doesn’t give players the required merit to play international Test cricket, where does that leave us?

In this case, the only approach would be to give young players who have successful international performances in ODI or T20, a chance to translate their skills by playing Test cricket against other international teams. But how do you create those opportunities? I suggest A-team tours. If the domestic sides can’t show enough quality and consistency, then touring teams from other nations with better development programmes are the solution. Given time and exposure, their ability could translate to a new way of playing.

Ultimately, the developmental approach of the existing Test squad is missing the mark. At the current rate, if governance reform is implemented steadily and grassroots development is brought forward, we might see real change in the quality of the domestic season in around eight to ten years. With this in mind, I think it would be wise to look at other options in the meantime.

A nurturing development setup needs to be introduced as quickly as possible, one that offers clear, merit-based pathways to international cricket for the best-of-the-best. Achieving this would require an improvement in coaching and facilities, but it also demands the introduction of a culture of responsibility and performance that is built around merit. Merit should be rewarded, even if it comes with a perceived risk.

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On March 31, 2025, the day before April Fools, CWI issued a media release titled: West Indies enters new era as Brathwaite steps down as Test captain and Hope takes over white-ball leadership. [LINK]

Just over a month later, it was announced that Roston Chase had replaced Kraigg Braithwaite as Test captain, while Shai Hope would be overseeing both ODI and T20 games, deposing T20 captain Rovman Powell.

After years of stagnation, leadership changes at the top of the game are always likely to inspire hope in West Indies cricket fans. But we’ve been in this position before and have come away disappointed, so will it be different this time?

Based on the information available to West Indies fans, do they have reason to be hopeful?

T20

The press release on March 31st began: “The white-ball team enters a new phase as Hope assumes the role of T20 captain in addition to his existing ODI captaincy. He replaces Powell, who led the T20 side with distinction since May 2023.”

Powell’s input got an honourable mention, and if the press release is to be believed, he took the news well.

“In terms of our white-ball leadership, after receiving the advice of Sammy on the intention to transition to Hope, we spoke to Powell, who received the decision with professionalism and grace… I have expressed to him that he ought to feel dignified by his contributions to WI cricket, as he has played a crucial role in elevating our T20 team to new heights.”

While it might be difficult to read between the lines there, a quote attributed to Daren Sammy was more telling.

“Hope’s appointment signals a progressive shift for WI cricket, given his success with the 50-over team in the last 18 months. As the team continues its evolution, Hope blends instinctive decision-making with analytical precision, using in-depth data and player performance insights to shape strategy.”

There has been speculation of an apparent disconnect between Powell and Sammy regarding the coach’s reliance on analytics and data. This statement suggests that Sammy feels he can foster a modern, data-led working relationship with Hope. The question now is whether it will translate to positive results on the field.

Test

The press release made it clear that Brathwaite had decided to step away and had done so in a thoughtful manner, allowing for a gradual transition to a new leadership. Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, touched on Brathwaite’s tenure as Test skipper, saying: “Kraigg Brathwaite has been an outstanding leader for our Test team, guiding the squad with discipline, resilience, and a deep understanding of the game.”

Naturally, rumours about his replacement spread like wildfire on social media, but the speculation ended when CWI announced the appointment of Roston Chase as Test captain for the home series versus Australia, with Jomel Warrican named as his vice-captain.

At the time of the announcement, perhaps to quell some of the rumours and conjecture around the decision, CWI went into great detail in outlining the rationale behind their decision.

“Recognising the critical role of leadership in shaping team culture, driving performance and ensuring long-term success, CWI adopted a data-informed, multi-dimensional framework to guide the selection. This marks a significant evolution in how leadership appointments are made, aimed at strengthening accountability, transparency and alignment with modern cricketing standards.”

Six players were shortlisted “based on factors including Test experience, leadership qualities and captaincy credentials.” Those players were Roston Chase, Jomel Warrican, John Campbell, Tevin Imlach, Joshua Da Silva, and Justin Greaves. Shai Hope, who was seen as a favourite for the Test captaincy, “respectfully declined consideration to focus on his existing leadership roles.”

Buy me a coffee

The interview panel was comprised of Sammy, Bascombe, and Enoch Lewis, chairman of the cricket strategy and officiating committee. Each candidate underwent “a detailed assessment process that included psychometric testing to evaluate leadership style, behaviour, and overall suitability for the role, as well as structured interviews focused on tactical approach, communication skills and team culture.”

“The final recommendation was based on a weighted scoring system across six key areas – leadership, respect within the team, cricket knowledge, personal conduct, media and communication skills, and the results of the psychometric evaluation. The top-ranked candidates were recommended as captain and vice-captain, and subsequently approved by the CWI Board.”

Reading between the lines, I had to wonder if Shai Hope was the one they really wanted, and I would soon have a chance to pose that question to the men at the top of the game.

More Questions than Answers

On May 19th, 2025, CWI held a virtual media briefing chaired by Miles Bascombe. He was joined by Sammy and Chase, who were away with the WI ODI team in Ireland at the time.

This journalist posed three questions to the panel. Were their answers revealing? I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.

Question One: Six individuals were interviewed for the Test captaincy, but there wasn’t a similar group interviewed for the T20 captaincy. It leads me to wonder if the T20 captain was, in Sammy’s mind, Shai Hope alone. But as Hope declined the Test captaincy, six players were shortlisted. Is that the case?

SAMMY: “Having been part of the T20 team for the last twenty months, I think I would’ve had enough knowledge of the players in the dressing room to be in a position to make a clear and sound decision on the next step forward.”

Question Two: WI are playing Australia in a Test series with a captain who has never led a First-Class team and a coach who has never dealt with a First-Class team. How is that going to help West Indies' reputation as a formidable Test nation?

SAMMY: “We all got to start somewhere. I’m a firm believer in what I bring into the dressing room, as a coach and as a leader. I’m pretty sure Roston is a very confident man in the way he plays cricket. When I became the coach, a lot of people said those same things, but I think what we’ve been able to do as a team speaks for itself in the white-ball format. I truly believe I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

With the belief I have in myself, the processes that I follow, the staff that I have around me, and the players that we’ve identified to play the roles, I believe we all can have an impact on Test cricket. Once I have a clear vision as to what is required, I’ll put my head down with my team, and we’ll go out there and do it.

The experience I’ve gained playing cricket over the years, captaining, understanding the data that is in front of us, and trusting the process that is needed to win, we’re going to apply that to every series, and that includes Australia. I will not be in a job that I’m not capable of doing.”

Question Three: Of the six who were shortlisted, we had Da Silva, who was the captain of the last three WI ‘A’ teams, home and away to Bangladesh and away to South Africa, and Imlach, who was the captain of the victorious Guyana (Harpy Eagles) in the Regional Four-Day Championship, but WI have a Test captain and vice-captain who are lacking in captaincy experience in First-Class cricket.

Sammy repeatedly talks about roles, so are we going into a situation where captains will be selected based on their roles as captains alone, or their roles as captains and players? With all due respect, Chase’s batting average (26.33) and bowling average (46.0 from 49 Tests, having made his debut in 2016), as well as Warrican’s bowling average (27.56 from 19 Tests, having made his debut in 2015), do not inspire confidence. Are they being selected primarily as leaders, with players fitting into various roles, or are you picking teams based on player capabilities first and foremost?

BASCOMBE: “While we might say Roston Chase does not have experience as a First-Class captain, he has been a vice-captain to a WI Test team before. He is an experienced Test player. It’s a multi-faceted assessment (with) different criteria, but taking into consideration all of the factors that you are raising, we are quite happy with the process, and being happy with the process makes it a lot easier to be satisfied with the output from the process.”

From those questions and answers, can fans be optimistic about the future? The committee certainly went to a lot of trouble with the Test captain selection, and the process was thoroughly modern in its approach, but was it a case of carefully choosing the second-best option?

Daren Sammy’s answer to my first question seemed like a deflection and didn’t clarify their position at all. They got their man for limited overs cricket, but where the Test captaincy is concerned, I can’t escape the feeling that the selection committee were chasing Hope. West Indies cricket fans can relate.

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West Indies cricket has long symbolised flair, passion, and raw talent. However, in recent years, inconsistent performances, financial struggles, and a lack of infrastructure have hindered its growth. It is time for bold initiatives to reshape West Indies cricket and revitalise its flagging reputation, and I suggest two key areas for development: venues and tourism.

Venues

To maximise team performance and improve the region’s cricketing infrastructure, CWI should designate a primary stadium for each format and develop it into a specialised venue that caters to the needs of players, coaches, and staff. You might have ideas for suitable venues, but here are my suggestions.

Test Cricket: Kensington Oval, Barbados

Rich in history and tradition, Kensington Oval is the spiritual home of West Indies cricket. It has hosted some of the most iconic Test matches and provides conditions that favour both pace and spin bowling, making it an ideal battleground for the longest format.

Development Plan: Upgrade training facilities, including state-of-the-art indoor nets and fitness centres. Establish a high-performance academy for Test specialists to develop patience and technical skills. Improve spectator experience with better seating, hospitality suites, and fan zones. Enhance pitch and outfield maintenance to ensure consistent playing conditions.

One Day International: Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad & Tobago

Queen’s Park Oval has historically been a fortress for the West Indies in ODIs, offering lively pitches that support exciting contests. It is also one of the most picturesque venues in world cricket, adding to the appeal for fans and broadcasters.

Development Plan: Build specialised training areas focusing on ODI skills such as power-hitting and death bowling. Improve dressing room and recovery facilities to support player performance. Install modern floodlights for better day-night match experiences. Expand seating and hospitality options to accommodate larger crowds.

T20: Sabina Park, Jamaica

T20 cricket thrives in an electric atmosphere, and Sabina Park, with its passionate fans and fast outfield, is the perfect venue for this format. Jamaica has also produced many of the region’s top T20 players, making it a fitting home for the shortest version of the game.

Development Plan: Upgrade the stadium with bigger stands, party zones, and entertainment areas to match the energy of T20 cricket. Build cutting-edge analytics and coaching centres to prepare players for high-intensity matches. Introduce interactive fan experiences like player meet-and-greets and live DJ performances. Improve transport and access to the venue to make it more tourist-friendly.

Tourism

The Caribbean has world-renowned tourist appeal, and it feels like the region’s cricket set-up is missing out by not tapping into that. To make West Indies cricket more financially sustainable and globally attractive, CWI should partner with hotels, airlines, and tourism boards to offer all-inclusive cricket packages. This would allow fans from around the world to experience Caribbean cricket while enjoying the best of the region’s hospitality.

Package Suggestions: ✔ Round-trip airfare with discounted rates for cricket travellers. ✔ Luxury and budget-friendly hotel accommodation near the match venues. ✔ All-inclusive food and drink options featuring Caribbean cuisine and local beverages. ✔ Match tickets with exclusive seating options, VIP access, and meet-the-players events. ✔ Guided tours and excursions showcasing the beauty of each host island.

This would have four key benefits:

1. Increased Fan Attendance: More international fans will travel to the Caribbean for matches, boosting ticket sales.

2. Tourism and Economic Growth: Local businesses, restaurants, and transport services will benefit from cricket tourism.

3. Financial Stability for CWI: Revenue from partnerships with airlines, hotels, and tourism boards will provide long-term funding.

4. Enhanced Team Morale: A packed stadium with passionate fans can inspire better team performances.

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A bold future for West Indies Cricket

By developing specialised venues for Test, ODI, and T20 cricket and launching an all-inclusive fan experience, CWI can create a sustainable model that strengthens both team performance and financial stability. This initiative would not only help the West Indies reclaim their dominance in world cricket but also turn Caribbean cricket into a must-see global attraction.

This all costs money, of course, but if CWI are serious about revitalising West Indies cricket, the time has come to invest. Fail to do so, and it risks being left behind.

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Whether it’s the sight of Obed McCoy clutching his side, Andre Russell nursing chronic knee troubles, or Evin Lewis missing yet another tour for fitness reasons, the narrative has taken root: Modern West Indies players are as brittle as stale macaroni.

Jason Holder, Evin Lewis, Andre Russell, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, Keemo Paul, Obed McCoy… The list goes on. I cannot be the only one looking at those names and wondering why West Indies players are suddenly so injury-prone. When was the last time we fielded a full-strength team in any format?

This is a perception, but is it rooted in fact? Are today’s West Indies cricketers genuinely more injury-prone than their legendary predecessors, or are a confluence of modern factors distorting our view?

I want to explore the historical context, medical realities, and systemic issues surrounding player injuries in West Indies cricket to answer the following questions:

1. Are modern players really more injury-prone?

2. If so, then why?

3. If we know why, can we fix it?

I should preface this piece by saying I am not a medical expert. Nor am I educated in sport biomechanics. My degree only vaguely touches upon health, so I will try not to present any medical misinformation, but I ask for forgiveness if anything slips through the cracks.

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Golden Era Toughness

Much has been written, said, and sung about the ‘golden era’ of West Indies cricket, typically considered to be the 20-year period between 1970 and 1990. I will focus on this era because of the legacy that accompanies it. The way these men were described to me made them seem invincible, like real-life superheroes. Their auras were that of the boxer and seldom the boxed.

But, from what I’ve read, although fast bowlers like Michael Holding, Joel Garner, and Malcolm Marshall terrorised batting line-ups, beneath the veneer of dominance, injuries did exist.

So, what separates the injury record of Keemo Paul from that of Michael Holding?

One of the key differences appears to be in how injuries were perceived and dealt with during Holding’s era. Sports medicine, for example, was extremely rudimentary by modern standards, which meant that niggles and injuries were often neglected, misdiagnosed, or overlooked. Players were expected to play through pain, and the zeitgeist glorified stoicism in the face of adversity and injuries, especially minor ones like strains and soreness, which were seen as little more than a hurdle to overcome, rather than a condition to be managed.

Michael Holding’s chronic back pain, Malcolm Marshall playing with a broken hand, and Clive Lloyd’s hamstring issues are well-documented, yet were often downplayed in media narratives of the time. These players, above all, needed to serve the game and the series in front of them. The idea seemed to be that you can rest and recover afterwards, and, to an extent, that was the case. Due to a less congested cricketing calendar, there genuinely was more downtime between tours, giving players time to recover after games.

The Modern Landscape: More Cricket, More Strain

Cut to the modern era and the cricketing world is vastly different. With the introduction of shorter formats like T20 and even T10, organisers are scheduling a busier cricket calendar than ever before.

Modern cricketers, especially from the Caribbean, face an unrelenting scheduling issue. Beyond their international commitments, players tend to participate in global franchise leagues, like the IPL, PSL, CPL, MLC, BBC, SA20, BPL, GSL and BBL. One of those isn’t a real franchise league, but you probably didn’t notice that until just now.

The cricketing calendar for 2025 only exemplifies this point. Let’s look at the schedule for someone like Shai Hope, for instance. As the ODI and T20I captain, he will be playing every West Indies game in those formats on top of his choice of franchises. What does his schedule look like?

21st - 25th May: 3 ODIs vs Ireland

29th May - 3rd June: 3 ODIs vs England

6th - 10th June: 3 T20Is vs England

12th - 15th June: 3 T20Is vs Ireland

25th June - 17th July: 3 tests vs Australia

20th - 28th July: 5 T20Is vs Australia

31st July - 3rd August: 3 T20Is vs Pakistan

8th - 15th August: 3 ODIs vs Pakistan

In addition, Shai Hope will return to the CPL this year, where he can play up to ten matches, and if his team advances to the play-offs, he faces a further three. And this still does not account for the possibilities of new tours being scheduled between now and the end of the year, or of Hope playing in more leagues outside of the one mentioned. Based on all of these factors, the expectation is that Shai Hope will play between thirty-seven and forty-three games in a five-month period this year, possibly averaging up to two games per week.

Conversely, according to ESPNCricInfo, the West Indies team faced only one international tour in the 1970/1971 season, a five-match test series vs India. The region did see a handful of regional tournaments, but they pale in comparison to the work schedule of modern players.

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This cricketing overload leaves little time for rest and rehabilitation, and the physical demands of constantly switching formats undoubtedly takes a toll on the players’ physical health. But for West Indian cricketers, who often rely on franchise contracts for financial stability, opting out is rarely an option.

A 2003-2004 study recorded a match injury incidence of 48.7 per 10,000 player-hours in Tests, and 40.6 in ODIs for West Indies cricketers. These figures reflect a trend of increasing injuries coinciding with intensified playing schedules.

Better Diagnostics and Higher Visibility

Another vital factor amplifying the perception that modern players are more fragile is sports medicine, which has evolved significantly in the past half-century. Our understanding of biomechanics pays attention to every detail of the player, from sore muscles and minor niggles to mental welfare. This new approach often encourages players to withdraw from duty for injuries that might have been ignored or undiagnosed in the past. As our understanding of stress fractures and overuse injuries deepens, every sore thigh and bruised thumb is meticulously documented.

The Elephant in the Room

West Indies’ injury woes are deeply entwined with systemic flaws in the domestic cricket infrastructure.

For too long, the Caribbean has lagged behind the rest of the world when it comes to providing top-tier strength and conditioning facilities. The regional competitions do not match the intensity, professionalism, or medical support systems seen in Australia, England, or India.

This means players transition from under-resourced domestic cricket into the hyper-professional world of international cricket and franchise leagues. The abrupt jump exposes them to injury risks, as their bodies haven’t been adequately prepared to handle the stress load.

Psychological Considerations and Sports Science Neglect

Amidst the cuss and fingers in the chest, one thing we can all agree on is that the Caribbean tends to produce physically gifted athletes. However, there is a strong argument that athletes in the region overemphasise their raw abilities and neglect the proper forms and techniques of the game, aspects which are specifically designed to minimise injury.

Modern fast bowling, in particular, doesn’t just demand speed, it also requires endurance, biomechanical efficiency, and specialised conditioning. Shamar Joseph is a prime example of this phenomenon. He is undoubtedly talented and probably possesses the most raw ability of all the fast bowlers in the region. However, if you watch his series vs Australia, he was doing very little to brace his front leg. His action suggests he learned to bowl without the guidance of an elite coach.

Meanwhile, nations like India and Australia invest heavily in biomechanics labs, physiotherapy programs, and workload management software. The Caribbean, constrained by resources and often mired in administrative inefficiency, has not kept pace.

This gap leaves players susceptible to repetitive strain injuries, stress fractures, and soft-tissue injuries that proper scientific conditioning might have mitigated.

The Franchise Fiasco

West Indian stars are sometimes forced to prioritise short-term gains over long-term health. For many players in the region, franchise cricket is the only way to make a living from the game. However, the interconnectivity of franchise owners across leagues means that once you enter the cycle, you must constantly prove your commitment to the owners in order to be selected for other leagues and future events. These leagues are no longer team vs team, but rather brand vs brand, and this adds significant pressure on the player to jump from league to league, many of which don’t adhere to standard fitness protocols. It also worsens players’ cricketing schedule.

Quick turnarounds between leagues, insufficient recovery time, and lack of centralised fitness oversight contribute to chronic injuries. Andre Russell’s mechanical knees, for example, are a textbook case of overuse injuries aggravated by relentless franchise commitments, compounded by inconsistent injury management.

Cultural Attitudes and Professional Discipline

Another often overlooked factor in this discussion is the cultural shift in the professional discipline. The pure pride of representing the West Indies was enough for cricketers of the Golden Generation to stay fit and in form. The badge was their status symbol, and they had to fit the mould the badge demanded.

In the modern game, however, professional discipline has become inconsistent. Stories of failed fitness tests, neglected fitness programs, and alcohol and fast-food binges in the off-season are not uncommon.

Culture wars between islands can also damage progress. There is a deep-rooted suspicion that small islands sometimes reject plans drafted by larger islands, while Trinidadians might see fit not to support a Guyanese proposal, and Barbadians might try to find some way to incorporate England, so on and so forth. Ultimately, our historical millstones bog down regional conversations and raise hurdles that slow the implementation of changes.

Environmental Factors: Facilities and Training Conditions

Let’s face it, Caribbean cricket grounds, especially at the grassroots level, can be an embarrassment. Subpar gym equipment, poorly maintained pitches, and a lack of indoor training centres greatly exacerbate injury risks. I have even heard reports that players in the region don't like to dive anymore because pitches at the grassroots levels are filled with divots and stones, making diving hazardous, so they are trained not to.

Forcing players to train and play in sub-optimal conditions worsens the risk of injury as it increases susceptibility to soft tissue injuries and overuse problems. It also means that by the time a player enters the international level, they are likely to be nursing several minor injuries that have begun to compound, further worsening once the player is introduced to the much more demanding international arena.

Case Studies: McCoy, Dre Russ, Hetmyer

Although he is an extremely talented left-arm seamer, Obed McCoy has had one of the most stop-start careers of any player in West Indian history, to the point where many people doubt he can even make it through a T20I game series, much less a World Cup or larger tournament. Side strains and back injuries have crippled any prospect of McCoy representing the maroon in the long term. His case highlights the perils of inadequate workload management and the physical toll of franchise hopping.

Andre Russell was once the most fearsome T20 all-rounder in the world, but his chronic knee issues have cast doubts on the tail end of his career. In response, Dre adopted a manage-as-you-go approach, being extremely strategic with exactly which franchises and West Indies tours he shows up for. He can no longer play in as many games as he used to for fear of severely worsening his injuries. Andre Russell serves as the de facto warning of the long-term consequences of overuse without proper rehabilitation.

Shimron Hetmyer, meanwhile, while not injury-plagued in the traditional sense, has suffered fitness-related absences that point to cultural and disciplinary issues in maintaining peak physical condition.

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What Needs to Change?

Centralised Fitness Programmes

Ideally, there would be mandatory, year-round strength and conditioning camps to assess the fitness levels of everyone in the player pool. Performance data could also be used to create individualised templates to guide players towards betterment by tailoring their diet and fitness regime to their body’s needs.

Investment in Sport Science

This one goes without saying. Collaborations with global sports science institutions to upgrade biomechanical analysis and injury prevention methodologies would be a heavenly boon. Using this investment to advance research into athlete health, medicine, and biomechanics, especially in under-documented environments like the women’s formats, would go a long way toward regional development.

Franchise and National Team Synergy

Clear protocols should be established to guide each player in managing their franchise and international workload. I am not asking to copy India and ban players from playing in foreign leagues, but some regulations are needed to ensure long-term player health.

Infrastructure Upgrades

Training facilities and grounds across the region need to be modernised and standardised to ensure every player, regardless of island origin, has access to the same quality of development opportunities.

Cultural Reorientation

A concerted effort needs to be made to rewrite the cultural pitfalls and reemphasise the pride and discipline that previous generations felt when representing the West Indies. In an ideal world, fitness is non-negotiable when the West Indies’ reputation is at stake.

Not Fragile, Just Mismanaged

The narrative that modern West Indies cricketers are more injury-prone than their iconic predecessors oversimplifies a complex reality. While today’s players face more rigorous schedules and scrutiny, their struggles stem not from inherent fragility but from a convergence of avoidable factors: overcrowded calendars, inadequate domestic structures, underinvestment in sports science, and cultural complacency towards fitness.

This is not an unsolvable crisis. With strategic investments in infrastructure, modernised player development systems, and a cultural recommitment to excellence, the West Indies can reclaim its legacy, not just as a factory of cricketing brilliance, but as a model for sustainable athlete management.

The heroes of yesteryear endured because they had to. The stars of today deserve to thrive because we planned for it. The opportunity to rewrite this narrative is within reach. For the sake of West Indies cricket, it must be seized.

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When it comes to captaincy, it feels as though the region is in disarray. Only a couple of weeks ago, T20I captain Rovman Powell was controversially replaced by ODI skipper Shai Hope. At the same time, although Kraigg Brathwaite’s resignation from the Test captaincy role was long expected, the question of his rightful successor has cast a long and uncertain shadow. The field feels unusually barren.

This has stirred the metaphorical dal pot, bringing about one of the more tumultuous moments in recent CWI memory. Every uncle, nephew, and wannabe cricket journalist has weighed in on the conversation, and now, so will I. But allow me to take a different approach.

Six players were interviewed for the role of West Indies Test Captain: Joshua Da Silva, Tevin Imlach, Roston Chase, Jomel Warrican, Justin Greaves, and John Campbell. With the near future of West Indies cricket in mind, none of those names spark any joy or hope in me. I could state my opinion on why each of them is not fit to take on the role, but every voice in the region has already published a video or an article discussing that. So rather than debate who among them deserved the nod, I want to explore what the role actually requires. What are the qualities, histories, and responsibilities that define West Indies captaincy, and what standards should any new leader be held to?

The Weight of History: Contexts That Still Matter

Eras come and go, but West Indies cricket maintains the legacy of the badge. Captaincy in the region is not just about the strategy on the pitch or which of our friends and countrymen get selected. The leader of the team bears the weight of the ancestors. It’s an inheritance — a political, cultural, and symbolic torch passed through generations. The eyes of Daren Sammy, Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Frank Worrell, and many more are all looking on to see how their legacies are treated.

From Colonial Shadows to Political Symbols

Early captains like George Headley and Sir Frank Worrell faced the impossible task of legitimising a West Indian identity on the world stage, all while representing a colonial structure built to undermine that very identity. Their exploits on the field were often less about winning cricket matches and more about asserting presence, proving that the Caribbean man could lead, think, and conquer on his own terms. In many ways, they sparked or accelerated the region's drive toward independence.

Clive Lloyd’s Dynasty

Then came Clive Lloyd, arguably the archetype of West Indian leadership. He didn’t just lead, he constructed an empire. With tactical acumen and a quiet, commanding aura, Lloyd turned a fragmented collection of talent into the most feared team in the world. He harnessed a regional identity that echoed far beyond sport, confronting global racial dynamics at a time when South Africa remained under apartheid and India had yet to fully stake its claim in global cricket.

Viv Richards: The Defiant Face of Caribbean Pride

Viv Richards, meanwhile, marked a turning point. His captaincy was less about diplomacy and more about declaration. Swaggering, brilliant, and unwavering, he demolished the old colonial template of servitude. His leadership embodied Caribbean pride — an attitude, not just a strategy.

Modern Captains in a Modern Chaos

Recent captains, like Darren Sammy, Jason Holder, and Kraigg Brathwaite, operated in a wildly different landscape. Colonialism has taken on new forms in neo-colonialism. They fly in the face of foreign leagues pulling players away, foreign boards twisting their selection policies to entice West Indians away from their home soil, internal board dysfunction, and an erosion of regional structures that once developed greatness. These modern leaders don’t just fight on the pitch, they wrestle with contract disputes, burnout, and an increasingly disengaged fan base.

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The Essential Qualities of a Good West Indies Captain

The order may vary by who you ask, but for most West Indies fans, young and old, the following attributes form the foundation of true leadership.

1. Diplomatic Intelligence Across Island Lines

The West Indies is a region masquerading as a single team. The captain must navigate cultural rivalries, like the Guyana vs Trinidad banter and the Big Island vs Small Island perceptions, and foster genuine unity. The ability to connect with and manage players from a dozen different backgrounds is arguably more crucial than field placements or toss decisions.

2. Elite Man-Management in a Team of Egos

West Indian cricketers have always had bold personalities and it’s part of what makes them great. But when that fire turns inward, it can consume the dressing room. A good captain must channel those egos, refocusing frustration into performance. Failure to do so, such as the incident with Alzarri Joseph storming off the field during the England series — allegedly due to Shai Hope ignoring his preferred field — becomes an indictment of the captain and the player environment they’ve created. It speaks to a lack of cohesion, and by extension, ineffective leadership.

3. Communication Mastery (Especially with Media)

Public perception matters more than we like to admit. It can shoulder the brunt of losses and keep the fanbase perpetually on your side. Jason Holder, for example, thrived in the public’s perception despite the trail of failures and lousy performances that followed him.

He still managed to earn the region’s admiration through calm, articulate press conferences and emotionally grounded interviews. He was a politician, a diplomat, and a statesman in white.

By stark contrast, Nicholas Pooran often sounded flippant or disconnected during post-match interviews, which only added fuel to public criticism. In a region where cricket is intertwined with national identity, the captain must be fluent in the languages of sport, politics, and people.

4. Resilience Without Delusion

There was once a time when captains were expected to average 50, score double hundreds, or take a five-for on demand. Unfortunately, that time is gone, and I may never see it return in my lifetime. The memory of a decade-dominant West Indies side may very well die with my father. What we have now is an institution that is no longer conducive to producing acceptable test players. This means the modern captain needs to embody pragmatic resilience.

It may sound like heresy to say this, but in today's West Indies, it’s unreasonable to demand that a captain lead from the front statistically. We'd all love a 60-average behemoth, but literally none exist, active or not. Realistically, the bar has shifted, and that's okay; just be consistently decent, and don't become a liability. That alone can provide the kind of example this team needs. Many fans will say that even this is asking too much.

Why the Captain Matters More Than Ever

In most other cricketing nations, a captain operates in the safety net of a robust system with strong domestic leagues, professional boards, and pipelines of talent. In the West Indies, however, that safety net barely exists.

The captain becomes the de facto bridge between chaos and coherence. They shield players from administrative madness. They sell hope to a sceptical fan base. They represent not just a team, but the region's self-worth.

That’s why West Indies captaincy will always carry more weight and scrutiny than perhaps any other captaincy in sport.

Conclusion: A Leader for Our Time

So, what do we really want in our next West Indies captain?

We want someone who understands the political legacy of Worrell and Headley, who channels the unifying power of Lloyd, who embodies the pride of Richards, and who navigates the instability of the present with the grace of Holder or the grit of Brathwaite.

But we also need to be realistic. The golden age is over, at least for now. We’re not looking for a saviour, we’re looking for a stabiliser; someone who will stop the bleeding, unite a scattered group, and help us rediscover purpose. This will be not just a leader of eleven men, but of a complicated, passionate, wounded region.

The next West Indies captain won’t be perfect, but if they are honest, hard-working, and unafraid to lead with their chest, we will rally behind them. Because here, leadership is not about lifting trophies, it’s about lifting belief.

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March 25^th, 2023. It was the final day of the fourth round of the West Indies Championship, and the Leeward Islands were playing the Windward Islands at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Whether he knew it or not, this was an important day for Montcin Hodge.

After rescuing themselves from 121/6 to 382/9 declared, and then getting a first-innings lead of 29, the Leewards were in trouble at 99/5. Debutant Karima Gore was last out, trapped LBW with the final ball of the previous day.

On the morning of March 25th, long-standing opener Montcin Hodge was still there on a defiant 45, joined at the crease by Kofi James. James, playing only his fifth first-class game, had been promoted a spot after his century in the first innings. With only the tail to come after James, Hodge farms the strike. He knows the chances of setting a decent target rest on him. Over the next five overs, the pair put on 15 more runs, with Hodge scoring 14 of them and reaching his half-century before he too was trapped LBW. James held out for 31 balls before being dismissed for 12, and the Leewards were bowled out for 144. The Windwards rattled off the 174 runs required in under 40 overs to secure victory.

This was Hodge’s last game for the Leeward Islands. The 35-year-old had played 95 games over a 15-year first-class career, and he signed off in his typical style. His gritty 59 off 133 balls showed that, despite his limited batting ability, he could make it difficult for opposing teams to get him out.

Hodge’s approach epitomised Leeward batting at the time. Lacking natural talent in the top order, Hodge set the tone by putting a price on his wicket, which others down the order would follow. Meanwhile, fellow opener Keiran Powell would go on the attack and put pressure on the opposition. In Hodge’s final game, Powell hit 75 off 105 balls, Gore scored 93 off 198 balls, James scored 107 off 248 balls, and Jeremiah Louis, batting at 9, scored 45 off 70. Their combined grit had rescued the team from the earlier position of 121/6. While Leewards weren’t a good side, they weren’t easy to beat either and had made Windwards work for their victory.

For the final match of the 2023 Championship against Guyana, the Leewards looked well on course at 96/1 chasing 143 to win, but then completely collapsed to 125 all out. Powell made 61 of them. Hodge’s replacement for the game, Larry Audain, scored 0 and 12, and has not played another regional game since.

It was also to be the final match for another Leeward Islands stalwart, albeit for very different reasons. Devon Thomas had a poor game, scoring 2 and 0. Soon afterwards, the 33-year-old was suspended for match-fixing by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit and banned for five years, casting a dark cloud over his 105 first-class career games.

With Hodge and Thomas now gone, it was time for change. Mikyle Louis came in to fill Hodge’s spot, opening with the now 34-year-old Powell. Keacy Carty, who had topped the averages the previous season, was now a regular starter. Justin Greaves, who had played for the Windwards in Hodge’s final game, was now in the Leeward Islands’ set-up. And most excitingly, the potentially generational talent of 17-year-old Jewel Andrew was in the squad.

Fast-forward to the Leeward’s first game of the 2024 WI Championship against West Indies Academy. Carty and Greaves were away in Australia with the national side. Andrew was away at the Under-19s World Cup, and Powell was out injured. Leewards had to form a makeshift top order of Louis, Joshua Grant, James, and Gore. This was a top order with a grand total of seven first-class games between them, and with openers who were both making their senior debuts. The most experienced batter was Jahmar Hamilton, promoted from seven to five to help shore up the batting. Compared to Hodge’s final game, where the top four had collectively played over 350 first-class games and 45 tests between them, this was quite a step down.

The Academy, on their debut in the WI Championship, won the toss, elected to field, and quickly reduced Leewards to 10/3 as Grant and James both fell for 0 and Louis for 9. Leewards struggled to 137 all out and were eventually beaten by 5 wickets. Leadership and experience had been sorely missed. For the next game against Guyana, Carty returned to replace Grant, and Gore made way for the hotly anticipated debut of Andrew in red-ball cricket. Andrew’s first senior red-ball innings was memorable for all the wrong reasons as the youngster was out first ball.

Fortunately for Leewards, Guyana were still missing players from the Australia tour, and Mikyle Louis was on fire, hitting centuries in both innings to carry them to a 273-run victory. It was to be Guyana’s only defeat of the season, as with their full-strength team, they went on to win the Championship.

The thumping win and Louis’ two centuries belied the problems within the Leeward Islands’ batting card. Other than Louis, only Hamilton and Rakheem Cornwall scored above 35 in both innings. Those two players are capable, experienced batters, but they are not in the side to bat. Batting experience was still lacking, and the result only papered over the cracks.

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The return of Powell to open the batting gave them that experience. Now, the inexperienced batters had someone to look to in the dressing room for guidance, as Powell could lead from the front.

After Powell’s return, the Leeward batters racked up three centuries and seventeen half-centuries between them across the remaining five games. Carty was the main beneficiary, scoring a century and five half-centuries. The 2024 WI Championship wasn’t a vintage season by Powell's standards, but he made a century, two half-centuries, and finished with an average of 32.40. Leewards lost only one of those five games, against Barbados, largely down to a score of 189 from Kraigg Brathwaite.

Fast-forward now to the 2025 WI Championship, where Leewards ended their season in fourth place after a final-round defeat against Barbados. Powell had left, spending the season in the Combined Campuses and Colleges set-up. Louis, Carty, and Greaves, meanwhile, had spent most of the last twelve months in the West Indies test squad discovering the harsh realities of playing at the highest level.

A positive 2025 WI Championship, helped by the more batting-friendly Kookaburra ball for the first few rounds, would have given them a good chance of securing their spots for the Australia series. However, Leeward batting largely went backwards at this year’s championship. The number of centuries stayed the same at 5, but the total number of half-centuries fell from 21 to 20. And when we look at the stats in more detail, the picture looks worse.

The WI test trio of Louis, Carty, and Greaves all averaged less than they did in the previous championship. Carty, especially, had an awful tournament, with only two scores above 50. Wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton topped both the Leewards’ runs and batting average tables, despite spending most of the season batting at six or seven.

The other worrying metric was the number of balls faced by each batter. Louis averaged 68 balls faced per innings, 31 fewer than his breakout championship last year. Carty faced an average of 60 balls per innings, 19 fewer than last year. Greaves, to his credit, improved on last year, with 90 balls on average per innings, but in the wake of this championship, it would be difficult to say that any of these players are guaranteed selection for Australia.

Without Powell opening for them this year, the Leewards looked like a team of talented individuals who still have a lot to learn. Many of the current batters would benefit from studying the situational awareness of Powell and learning how to grind it out like Hodge. Powell and Hodge are unlikely to be regarded as legends of cricket outside their home islands, but together, they showed what can be achieved with application, along with the key red-ball skills of building batting time, putting a price on your wicket, knowing when to attack and defend, and knowing when to farm the strike.

Hodge could go 10+ game seasons facing an average of 100+ balls an innings, while Louis, Carty and Greaves aren’t able to average facing more than 90 in half the number of games. Being able to survive only 90 balls an innings is barely enough to last a single session, never mind the two or three sessions West Indies will need batters to survive if they’re to stand a chance against Australia.

Powell’s test career average of 25.76 is not stellar by international standards, but compared to Louis’ 19.88, Carty’s 17.90, and Greaves' 21.00, it looks colossal. Kieran Powell is not the player he once was, and he had a very poor season at CCC, but while he is an aggressive batter, he’s not nearly as reckless as the trio of internationals currently fighting for their place in the West Indies test side.

And this brings us back to Jewel Andrew. He has improved his average this season and scored his first domestic century. However, he’s still averaging less than 50 balls an innings, which is a metric he has gone backwards in this year. There are skills he needs to learn to fulfil his potential as a world-class batter, and time is on his side to learn them. But, in the Leeward Islands at least, there isn’t anyone who can teach them to him.

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Why Kesrick Williams?

Kesrick Williams has not played any notable cricket for a while now and he doesn’t tie into any ongoing conversations around West Indies cricket. I don’t even have much of a connection to him. So why Kesrick Williams? Surely I should use my Trinidadian background to bring you stories about Pollard, Hosein, or Pooran, or talk about how Dinesh Ramdin and Shannon Gabriel are still beating up Division 2.

By almost every measure, Kesrick is not someone who warrants an article being written about him. Not right now, at least. But when I sat down and thought about it, I realised that the threads of his story were reflections of the wider West Indian context, and repeated patterns that have both built and destroyed careers. In many ways, he represents the values and identity of the entire region, values that sometimes get buried in the annals of misused statistics and pigeonholes.

I don’t intend to defend Kesrick’s record or champion him as a missed saviour of the region. Instead, I want to look at his background and see how he fits into the wider zeitgeist of Cricket West Indies.

Kesrick, if you ever read this:

1. Please don't start swinging a bat at my head

2. Feel free to get in touch. I would love to do a deeper, more personal dive into your story.

From the Streets of Saint Vincent

In an interview with CPL as part of their Player Diaries series, Kesrick opened up about his early influences. Surprisingly, he did not mention Lara or Sir Viv or Clive Lloyd, but rather, he spoke about something more personal. He spoke about growing up in Saint Vincent and looking up to his mother, who played as a wicket keeper on the first Saint Vincent women’s team. Cheering for his mother as she took wickets and lashed balls to the boundary sparked a unique maternal connection to the sport. In a sense, it was almost his birthright.

During his development as a cricketer, Williams preferred batting. But one fateful day, when he was fooling around and jokingly bowling a few balls during a practice session, a coach told him he might be onto something. That something turned into cutters, yorkers, and celebrations that would later make headlines around the world. A mistake, a joke, an experiment, turned into a career.

In a way, it’s fitting. So much Caribbean talent rises from improvisation. Whether it’s a boy turning a mango tree into a bat or a girl shadow-batting in her school uniform, the region has always made greatness out of what’s available. Kesrick is another product of that mad and beautiful process.

Kesrick’s Vincentian-ness

If you’re like me, learning that Kesrick Williams is from Saint Vincent came as a shock. Perhaps this speaks of my biases, but I had always assumed Kesrick was from Jamaica. When I first saw him, he was playing for the Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League, and he had a habit of showing up on Marlon Samuels’ Instagram stories and social media posts. Learning that he was from Saint Vincent fundamentally changed the lens through which I viewed him.

Part of being a West Indian fan is taking the opportunity to learn about the region. Only through West Indies cricket would I know about things like Eggball in Guyana, Oildown from Grenada, and Bulla and Pear from Jamaica. It has also developed a deeper understanding of the people of the islands.

Kesrick Williams isn’t the only player I’ve come across who I was surprised to learn was from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The islands consistently churn out noteworthy players, yet it feels as though your identity almost becomes the price for that. Jomel Warrican, for example, is another phenomenal player to come from Saint Vincent, but he is now based in Barbados and plays for ‘Little England’ regionally. Obed McCoy is another example, but because of his exploits with Barbados Royals in the CPL, he has become closely associated with that island.

Saint Vincent’s cricketers often seem to vanish under the branding of the more dominant cricketing islands in the region. In a way, it mirrors how many smaller islands’ stories are swallowed up in the broader narrative of West Indies cricket. Unless you're a real regional cricket nerd, or have an uncle who spends all day watching Windward Islands highlights on YouTube, you might miss the significance of that Vincentian grind, along with the edge they bring to the game.

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Maybe that's what makes Kesrick's rise feel even more unique. Not only did he fight the usual battles to prove himself, but he also had to push through the regional visibility bias. For many like Kesrick, the journey isn’t just up the ranks, it’s uphill in every direction. And to do it while maintaining the kind of charisma and personality that Kesrick brings to the field takes something special.

When you realise how much of his rise was self-made and fueled by sheer presence, it puts his celebrations, his swagger, and even his bowling into a richer context. This is not just a man trying to take wickets, it’s a man trying to make his island visible every time he steps over the boundary rope.

Celebrations That Broke the Internet

Let’s not kid ourselves, Kesrick Williams didn’t go viral because he took six-wicket hauls or bowled 90-mph thunderbolts. He became internet gold for one reason and one reason only: The Notebook. And I’m not talking about the movie your girlfriend keeps trying to get you to watch.

After dismissing a batsman (and let’s be honest, sometimes even before the ball had properly landed in the keeper’s gloves), Kesrick would whip out an imaginary notebook from his pocket and jot down the wicket. It was petty, it was theatrical, and it was absolutely unforgettable. That celebration had West Indies fans howling with laughter and opposition players doing double-takes like ‘Is this man for real?’

The invisible notebook was his signature and his calling card, just like Allen Iverson’s crossover or Usain Bolt’s lightning pose. Equal parts vibes and vengeance, it was so Caribbean in the best possible way, and became part of his mental game. He got under people’s skin with it, and for a man who didn't always bowl at express-train pace, that edge was crucial.

Of course, when you troll the cricketing gods, they sometimes tap back. And cricket god Virat Kohli absolutely tapped back. The infamous India vs. West Indies T20I in 2019 saw Kohli not just take Kesrick’s bowling apart, he turned around and imitated the notebook celebration after striking one of the most disrespectfully calm sixes you’ll ever see. That moment birthed a million memes and is now cemented in cricket banter history. It was the cricketing equivalent of the Uno reverse card.

A lot of players would’ve folded after that. Kohli mocking your signature move on live television? That’s soul-crushing. But Kesrick didn’t melt. He leaned into it. He later said in interviews that he respected Kohli for the fire and was even flattered to be mocked by the best. That response? Pure class. Not bad for a man who made his international debut at 26.

In so many ways, Williams’ notebook celebration emulated the showmanship and intimidation tactics of Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, and even modern show-offs like DJ Bravo and Chris Gayle. It added another stone to the edifice of the on-field West Indian identity, although it’s a form of identity that I feel is at death’s door. When was the last time we saw celebrations like this on a cricket pitch? Shamar Joseph’s victory lap at the Gabba comes to mind, but that required exceptional circumstances. The CPL was once full of unique celebrations, like Bravo’s chicken dance, champion dance, and whine, but it now displays a banal collection of hops and skips whenever a wicket falls.

Chadwick Walton: Friend, Foe, and Fellow Showman

Kesrick Williams wasn’t the only entertainer in the region. Enter Chadwick Walton, a man who knew how to give as good as he got. The battles between Walton and Williams weren’t just about runs and wickets, they were about attitude, personality, and one-upmanship. Their clashes in the CPL became the stuff of legend, filled with send-offs, mimicked celebrations, and moments that had commentators howling with laughter.

Walton, a hard-hitting batsman, embodied the aggressive, free-flowing nature of Caribbean cricket, while Kesrick, with his cunning variations and celebrations, represented the art of the counterpunch. Their duels showed the best of West Indies cricket: flair, intensity, and most importantly, fun.

What made their rivalry special was that it never felt mean-spirited. It was competitive but lighthearted, built on an understanding of the entertainment factor that has always been a part of West Indies cricket. Even when Walton mimicked Kesrick’s notebook celebration after smashing him for boundaries, it wasn’t about humiliation, it was about playing the game with swagger. The crowd loved it, the commentators fed off it, and the CPL was better for it.

But beyond the theatrics, their rivalry underscored an important truth: West Indies cricket needs its showmen. The game is at its best when personalities shine through, when players aren’t just stats on a scoreboard but living, breathing embodiments of the region’s culture. In a cricketing landscape where individuality is sometimes stifled, Walton and Kesrick reminded us why the West Indies were once the heartbeat of the cricket world.

Turning Over a New Leaf

In 2024, Kesrick Williams stepped away from international cricket, and in so doing, made statements that alluded to where he was at mentally and some of the challenges he faced.

"I don’t see myself playing international cricket anymore, even if I have a chance to do so. I don’t have any more energy for politics in sports and not being comfortable around people. While I was on that team, it was like I was there but still not there. I remember the first year that I played for the West Indies. If the tour was one week away, I would start packing one week before itself. I was that happy. But then it turned so bad that even if the tour started tomorrow, I would hardly have the enthusiasm to pack a day before. So no more West Indies, I just want to play league cricket and enjoy the rest of my playing career."

https://www.facebook.com/dailycricketDC/posts/west-indies-bowler-kesrick-williams-made-a-bold-statement-on-windies-crickethe-s/899034692294548/

In later interviews, Williams alluded to struggles with mental health and the pressures of professional cricket. He highlighted how the ups and downs of selection, the weight of expectations, and the isolation of the sport had taken a toll on him.

Honestly, it feels like his statements should have been taken more seriously in the region. They speak of a severe lack of resources and infrastructure to support athletes mentally. They speak of a lack of serious movements to destigmatise mental health and mental health counselling in the region, not just from CWI but from the culture of the land. It’s often forgotten that most of our players come from humble backgrounds and have mountains of sacrifice behind them. All of a sudden, a player may start seeing cheques with more money than they ever thought they’d have while also getting more cuss than anyone in their lineage ever thought was possible. And despite the role player managers, agents, and cricketing boards play in trying to combat this, if it gets to the stage where a player retires because of it, even partially, then clearly not enough is being done.

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Kesrick’s story is a reminder of the often overlooked mental strain that athletes endure. While fans see the celebrations and the highlights, they rarely see the personal battles behind the scenes. For all of the showmanship and bravado, Kesrick Williams was a human navigating the same struggles that many others in the sport face.

His departure leaves questions about how West Indies cricket supports its players off the field. In a region where cricketing dreams are often burdened by financial and psychological struggles, Kesrick’s journey serves as a crucial point of reflection. We cannot keep saying “Depression nuh real. Duppy just take yuh.”

More Than Just a Cricketer

As Kesrick Williams quietly steps away from international cricket, his story deserves reflection, not just for his performances on the field, but for his impact off it. His legacy transcends wickets and celebrations. In a world of cricket where numbers are king, Kesrick’s identity was defined by something far more profound: personality, authenticity, and resilience.

Though his career may not be littered with iconic records or everlasting accolades, the mark Kesrick left on the sport and the West Indian cricket culture is undeniable. He was never the fastest bowler, nor the most consistent, but he carried something even more powerful: the spirit of the West Indies. In every delivery, in every celebration, and in every interaction, he embodied that infamous, unapologetic swagger that has defined West Indian cricketers for generations.

Kesrick’s mental health struggles, openly discussed in his later years, are a stark reminder of the challenges athletes face beyond the cricket field. It is easy to forget that the players who entertain us, who wear their national colours and represent their communities, are not immune to the same personal battles as the rest of us. His willingness to step away when it became too much, when he needed to prioritise his well-being above all else, serves as a powerful example of self-awareness in a space that often demands sacrifice of everything for the sake of performance.

His career, though relatively brief at the highest level, will always be remembered for the moments that captured the imagination of fans. His iconic notebook celebration, a blend of showmanship, humour, and defiance, became a symbol of the West Indian way of doing things: play hard, play with passion, and always leave a mark, no matter the odds. But more importantly, Kesrick Williams’ legacy is a cautionary tale and a call to action for those in charge of the sport. It is time for a holistic approach to player welfare, one that recognises the importance of mental health, provides resources for athletes to thrive beyond their on-field performance, and fosters an environment where players feel supported and valued.

In the end, Kesrick Williams may not have had the international career that some would have hoped for, but the courage he showed in retiring on his own terms, speaking out about his struggles, and redefining what it means to be a West Indian cricketer will be what defines him. Kesrick’s legacy extends beyond wickets, celebrations, and the boundary of the field, and I believe it will reverberate for generations to come.

Nothing encapsulates all of that more than the surprise and joy a lot of us felt when LSG’s Digvesh Rathi recreated Kesrick’s celebration in this year’s IPL against Priyansh Arya. Although the BCCI reprimanded Rathi, his actions prove the iconic notebook still has plenty of pages in it.

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During Cricket West Indies’ Quarterly Press Conference on 31st March 2025, it was announced that two of the international team captains were stepping down: Kraigg Brathwaite from Tests and Rovman Powell from T20I. At the time of writing, a replacement for the Test captain hadn’t been named, but ODI superstar Shai Hope has been promoted to the T20I role.

Rovman Powell’s demotion, voluntary or not, has come as a shock to cricket fans across the region. His captaincy, twinned with the coaching of Darren Sammy, had made T20I arguably the most stable of the three formats. A marketing campaign by CWI highlighted the T20I team’s ranking improvements in the lead up to the last T20 World Cup, which reinforced a sense of security. Sadly, it was short-lived.

Now that Powell has left the role, we can take a moment to reflect on his tenure as captain and its impact on the squad.

The Context of Powell’s Appointment

It is impossible to comprehend the legacy and pitfalls of the Powell era without taking previous iterations of the T20 squad into consideration.

The global landscape was in flux following the COVID-19 pandemic, and Cricket West Indies was no exception. The pandemic postponed the 2020 T20 World Cup to 2021, creating an unusual schedule that forced two T20 World Cups to occur within months of each other. This put immense pressure on West Indies, the reigning champions from 2016, to defend their title.

At the 2021 T20 World Cup, Kieron Pollard led an ageing squad featuring veterans such as Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, and Andre Fletcher. The squad’s average age was 31.1 years, but experience didn’t translate into results. They only won one match in the tournament (against Bangladesh by three runs) and suffered a string of humiliating defeats, including being bowled out for 55 against England. The fallout was severe, prompting several players, including Pollard, to retire.

Nicholas Pooran was appointed captain in May 2022, but his tenure was even more disastrous. At the 2022 T20 World Cup, West Indies failed to qualify for the main event, finishing last in a group that included Ireland, Scotland, and Zimbabwe. This marked a new low for the team, and Pooran immediately stepped down as captain.

Was that warranted? Absolutely. But I doubt anyone could have predicted that West Indies would be on their third T20I captain in ten months.

In 2023, Rovman Powell stepped into the role. The team was in dire straits: ranking low, struggling in major tournaments, and losing the trust of fans. Frustration ran so deep that some supporters jokingly suggested replacing cricket pitches with cassava or ganja fields. Strong leadership was crucial, and Powell, an explosive middle-order batter with franchise cricket experience, was seen as the right person to restore resilience and aggression to the squad.

His appointment also coincided with Darren Sammy’s tenure as head coach, a move that signalled a shift towards rekindling the fearless approach that once defined West Indies T20 cricket. The goal was clear: rebuild, regain respectability, and most importantly, prepare for the 2024 T20 World Cup, which was set to be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA.

Road to the World Cup

Under Powell’s leadership, the team showed glimpses of improvement. A notable aspect of his tenure was the strategic emphasis on power-hitting, a trait long associated with West Indies cricket. His captaincy also allowed for the emergence and further development of younger players, who stepped up at crucial moments during bilateral series against teams like South Africa and India.

Powell’s first assignment as captain was a series in South Africa that was a resounding success. While a winning margin of 2-1 does not sound particularly impressive, the team’s new big-hitting mentality was consistently on display. They maintained strike rates of 11-13 across all three games, with standout performances from Johnson Charles, Kyle Mayers, Alzarri Joseph, and Powell himself, who scored an unbeaten 43 at a strike rate of 239. Though the favourable pitch conditions played a role, the message was clear: rebuilding through controlled aggression was the way forward.

Following the series win in South Africa, Rovman led the team to back-to-back series wins at home against India (3-2) and England (3-2). One of his strengths was leading from the front. On multiple occasions, he played match-winning knocks that demonstrated his ability to thrive under pressure. His aggressive intent and ability to clear the ropes provided the team with a dynamic middle-order presence, crucial for setting or chasing big totals.

It wasn’t until their fourth series under Powell that West Indies suffered their first significant loss: a 2-1 defeat away in Australia. Given Australia were the reigning World Cup champions, and this was Powell’s first major setback, fans were forgiving. The team rebounded with a 3-0 home whitewash of South Africa.

By the time the 2024 T20 World Cup arrived, Powell’s West Indies had won three of their last four series and were riding a seven-match win streak. While there were valid concerns about the quality of some of their opponents, there was no denying that the team had climbed the rankings and reignited hope among fans.

2024 T20 World Cup

Powell’s 2024 T20WC campaign was a rollercoaster that acted as both a validation of his leadership and an indictment of his tactical shortcomings. On paper, the West Indies dominated their group, but it always felt like they were a hair-trigger away from a loss.

Against Papua New Guinea, the batting lineup faltered, requiring Roston Chase and Andre Russell to salvage a victory. Against Uganda, the team posted 173 runs, but key batters like Pooran and Powell struggled to capitalise. The match against New Zealand further exposed these issues, as West Indies found themselves at 30-5 before Sherfane Rutherford’s heroics snatched a win from the jaws of defeat.

What underscored these matches, apart from the wins, was that the playing XI remained unchanged. Although gaps and weaknesses in the team were being exploited, even by Uganda, Powell’s reluctance to alter the plans and introduce someone like Shai Hope earlier into the tournament left the fanbase feeling uneasy.

Though the next win over Afghanistan was convincing, it was a dead rubber, with West Indies already through to the Super 8 stage. However, any momentum gained was quickly undone by England, who chased down 180 with ease, exposing the team’s toothless bowling attack.

West Indies then dominated the USA, with Shai Hope stepping in for the injured Brandon King and scoring 82 runs. This set up a must-win match against South Africa, which ended in a rain-affected defeat. Their World Cup was over.

Many fans criticised Powell’s inflexible bowling strategy and his inability to alter plans mid-tournament. At times, coach Sammy had to step in with instructions, reinforcing the perception that while Powell was an excellent motivator, he struggled tactically under pressure.

Following West Indies' exit from the T20 World Cup, fans were divided on the team’s performance, with some saying that reaching the finals was a bare minimum, while others considered reaching the Super 8 stage acceptable. Either way, the performance represented a significant improvement.

Despite the World Cup exit, Powell’s West Indies had restored hope. Fans expected the team to push forward by refining their strengths and learning from their mistakes. Instead, what followed was a steep decline that ultimately defined the latter half of Powell’s reign. Rather than learn and grow, West Indies spiralled into inconsistency, raising serious questions about Powell’s leadership and the team’s long-term direction.

Post World Cup Troubles

After the 2024 World Cup, West Indies played four T20I series and only won one of them, losing the last three back-to-back. The team won against South Africa at home, but South Africa had sent an underdeveloped squad to our shores, with debutants like Kwena Maphaka in their ranks. Powell’s performance with the bat was almost a bigger talking point than the performances themselves. Across the two games he batted in, the skipper made scores of 7 off 15 and 35 off 22 for an aggregate of 42 runs from 37 balls.

A seed had been planted. Fans began to question whether Powell’s inconsistency with the bat, particularly when facing spin bowlers, was a reason to leave him out altogether. Was his captaincy the only reason he remained?

The following three series were England at home, Sri Lanka away, and Bangladesh at home, and Powell’s West Indies did not win any of them. In fact, the team got whitewashed against Bangladesh, which was something that many fans found unforgivable.

Some big questions were raised during those three series losses. The team was essentially the same as the one that had graced the 2024 World Cup, so why were they underperforming so horribly in the aftermath? The side seemed unfocused and unconfident, almost as though the losses in the T20WC had traumatised them.

Powell vs Other Captains

Taking everything into consideration, we have to ask a burning question: “How di man stack up against dem others?”

Rovman Powell ends his captaincy with five series wins out of nine and a match-winning percentage of 51.35% after 37 matches. How does that compare to previous captains?

There are only six players who have captained the West Indies T20I side more than ten times, so let’s take a look at their stats.

As shown by the table above, Powell’s captaincy ranks as the second most successful in West Indies T20I history. Although he will not receive the accolades that the Sammy era brought, it would be an injustice to ignore the fact that he is only one of two captains to have a win percentage greater than 50%. Heck, he’s one of only two who have a win percentage over 40%!

So where does that leave us?

Powell’s Legacy

Powell’s tenure as West Indies T20I captain was a tale of resurgence, promise, and ultimately, stagnation. When he took over, the team was in complete disarray following consecutive World Cup failures and a severe loss of public trust. Through his leadership, and an aggressive yet measured approach to T20 cricket, Powell played a key role in reviving West Indies' competitiveness in the format. His leadership in bilateral series wins against top-tier teams like South Africa, India, and England instilled the belief that the team was on the right track.

However, Powell’s limitations as a tactical captain became evident when the stakes were at their highest. While the 2024 T20 World Cup campaign showed signs of progress, his reluctance to make proactive changes, particularly in team selection and bowling strategies, hurt the squad when it mattered most. And despite the optimism post-World Cup, Powell’s West Indies could not sustain the momentum. The sharp decline in performance during the following series, culminating in a whitewash against Bangladesh, erased much of the goodwill he had earned.

Additionally, Powell’s form with the bat was a growing concern. While he had delivered match-winning performances in the past, his inconsistency and well-documented struggles against spin bowling made him a vulnerable link in the team. As the defeats piled up, calls for a change in leadership became harder to ignore.

While his removal as captain may feel somewhat abrupt, it is not without justification. West Indies cricket, particularly in the T20 format, needs continuous evolution and adaptability. Powell was instrumental in steering the team out of one of its darkest periods, but the stagnation that followed suggested that a fresh direction was necessary.

As the Powell era comes to a close, the responsibility now falls on Shai Hope to take the team forward. Whether Hope can succeed where Powell faltered remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Powell’s impact on this West Indies T20 team, for better or worse, will not be forgotten. His tenure was not just about wins and losses, it was about restoring belief in a team that was on the brink of collapse. And for that, Powell deserves recognition.

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THERE WILL be opportunities for fringe West Indies players to stake claims for international team selections, in both red-ball and white-ball formats, during the West Indies-South Africa ‘A’ team series.

This series will feature three 50-over matches and two four-day first-class matches – all at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, St Lucia from May 21 to June 11.

These ‘A’ team contests would, in the words of Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Chris Dehring, “provide an excellent opportunity for our players and teams to prepare for international commitments.”

There is a likelihood that the West Indies ‘A’ teams, in both formats, will lean towards fielding younger players, with an eye on the future. On the other hand, the selection panel may decide to include a few of the ‘established’ internationals, who may need match practice ahead of forthcoming home series against Australia and Pakistan.

Miles Bascombe, CWI Director of Cricket, said in a recent media release, “This is a critical part of the development of our players while creating a pathway towards full international selection. This series comes at the perfect time especially with the new World Test Championship cycle only a couple months away.”

However, the ‘A’ team series will clash with the West Indies white-ball tours of England and Ireland, which could result in the unavailability (for the ‘A’ team series) of a few players – Amir Jangoo, Justin Greaves, Brandon King and Matthew Forde.

WHO MAY GET CALL-UPS AFTER DOMESTIC CONTESTS?

The West Indies (Regional Four-Day) Championship ended earlier this month and here are some of the top performers, with both bat and ball.

One can expect, at least, a few of these players to earn red-ball selections for the ‘A’ team series.

Four-Day Championship –

Bat – Jason Mohammed (679 runs), Joshua Da Silva (583 runs), Kevlon Anderson (573), Jahmar Hamilton (573) and Shaqkere Parris (546).

Ball – Khary Pierre (41 wickets), Joshua Bishop (33), Jomel Warrican (32), Veerasammy Permaul (32) and Ronaldo Alimohamed (28).

There are also a few players who may be worthy of consideration for the white-ball ‘A’ team fixtures after useful displays at the 2024 Super50 Cup.

Bat – Jangoo (446 runs), Greaves (401), Leniko Boucher (351), Sunil Ambris (289) and Kjorn Ottley (289).

Ball – Rahkeem Cornwall (23 wickets), Marquino Mindley (20), Yannic Cariah (15), Jediah Blades (14) and Akeem Jordan (14).

SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ TEAM NAMED

A 16-man ‘A’ team was announced by Cricket South Africa on Saturday for the month-long series in St Lucia.

Teenaged batting prodigy Lhuan-dre Pretorious, who has been in impressive form at the domestic level in South Africa, is part of the touring squad, as well as the spin pair of Bjorn Fortuin and Nqaba Peter, who were both part of recent South Africa’s limited-overs teams here in the Caribbean.

Team: Marques Ackerman (captain), Okuhle Cele, Ruan de Swardt, Schalk Engelbrecht, Bjorn Fortuin, Jordan Hermann, Tristan Luus, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Tshepo Moreki, Mihlali Mpongwana, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Lesego Senokwane, Jason Smith, Prenelan Subrayen.

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In this article, for a bit of fun, I’m looking at historical West Indian players who could comprise a powerful T20 XI today. But before I continue, I need to establish some house rules.

Firstly, I will focus on players from the 1990s or earlier. These players went through their careers without having to take T20 cricket into account, so I think this will create the most interesting XI.

Secondly, let’s acknowledge that we won’t find players from the pre-T20 era with stats comparable to modern T20 players. A Test player from the 1930s isn’t going to have a strike rate of over 150 or the array of quality variations perfected by bowlers like Ravi Rampaul and DJ Bravo. Instead, I will look at their mental approach to the game and their stats in the context of their era. This will allow me to assign them specific roles in the T20 XI.

Lastly, as mentioned above, I will use specific roles to construct this team. These will mostly come from the positions that have been explicitly or vaguely noted by the current coach of the WI T20 side, Darren Sammy. The roles are as follows:

1. Attacking Opener

2. Slower Opener

3. Late Powerplay Hitter / Middle Order Attacker

4. Marlon Samuels Role / Middle Order Anchor and Innings Builder

5. Finisher

6. Pacing All-Rounder / Finisher

7. Left-Arm Pacer / Seamer

8. Powerplay and Death Over Pacer / Seamer

9. Powerplay and Death Over Pacer / Seamer

10. Leg Spinner

11. Off-Spinner / Slow Left-Arm Spinner

In addition to the above, at least one player will need to fill the wicket-keeper role, and someone will need to be captain. It would be a boon if at least one of the primary batters can also aid in the bowling line, but, as seen in the recent team iterations, while not ideal, it’s possible to use only five bowlers.

Okay, with the house rules in place, let’s dive into the fun part and figure out which legends of West Indies cricket would thrive in the T20 format.

11. Off-Spinner or Slow Left-Armer

Some of you might be wondering why I combined these two bowling types into a single spot. I think, in the modern game, an off-spinner has a stronger claim to a T20 spot than a slow left-armer (think of Sri Lanka’s Theekshana or India’s Ravi Ashwin). But right now, the West Indies doesn't just have an abundance of SLO bowlers, in Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie, they have the two highest-ranked SLOers in T20I. I wanted to take both of these aspects into account when constructing the team.

For this spot, however, I went with an off-spinner. Lance Gibbs is my first conscript, and he probably needs no introduction. He is tall, attacking, and one of the most economical spinners in history. His control and flight would be a nightmare on slow T20 pitches. With over 300 wickets to his name, we all know what an absolute monster he was in Tests. Plus, he’s the kind of spinner you could bowl in the powerplay knowing he’d keep it tight, just like Hosein and Badree.

10. Leg Spinner

Honestly, this one was tough. Historically, the West Indies has struggled to produce high-quality legging for the international game, especially in comparison to other countries, but having a quality leg spinner is almost a requirement for the modern T20 circuit. West Indies has tried to get by using two SLOers instead, but I won’t grant myself the same luxury, especially when Sonny Ramadhin is right there.

Now, let me get a word in before you type something like: “Wasn’t Ramadhin an off-break mystery spinner?” You’re right, of course, but Ramadhin’s dominance primarily came from his ability to confuse batters. He had the ability to bowl both off-break and leg-break, meaning it didn’t matter whether the batter was left or right-handed. In my opinion, that skill is very similar to the strength in variations that dedicated leggies use in the modern game.

Ultimately, Sonny Ramadhin’s variation and guile make him this team’s wildcard choice. Tough to pick and tough to put away, he would have been perfect for the modern T20 environment. In a way, he offers a combination of the skills of both Narine and Badree, and if that doesn’t terrify and excite you at the same time, I don't know what will.

9. Powerplay and Death Over Pacer / Seamer

To be frank, slots 9 and 8 are probably the most guessable players to anyone who knows their West Indies history. We are looking for someone who can take up the new ball and bend it to their will. This is someone who can come in at the death and scare batters away from lashing out. In short, we are looking for twin-pitch demons.

The Hitman, Sir Andy Roberts, walks into the side. Really, do I need to say more? Let’s put it this way: In the 1970s, almost half a century before T20 bowling found innovation, Roberts was whitewashing England with his variations. Not only did he have unique deliveries like the Lull and Surprise, but he also varied his run-ups and release points with the goal of confusing and unsettling batsmen. In modern T20, he would run circles around any tail-end vooper. And he has the consistency and aura to knock down any opening pair.

8. Powerplay and Death Over Pacer / Seamer

Of all the West Indian pacers who emerged between the 1970s and 1990s, perhaps no one deserves to partner with Sir Andy Roberts more than the original Double M, Malcolm Marshall. There’s so much that can be and has been said about this legendary player, so I don’t need to be his advocate here. His ability to swing the ball would make him unplayable in the powerplay, and with his deadly accuracy, I would not expect anything short of two or three death overs of nailed yorkers.

7. Left-Arm Pacer / Seamer

Surprisingly, this role was more difficult to fill than the leggie. I even considered scrapping it and using another right-armer instead. The sad truth is the West Indies has always struggled to produce left-arm seamers. One of the more recent options would have been Pedro Collins, but he violated the ruleset by playing twenty-nine T20 games. To put the dryness of this well into perspective, when I asked AI to name five West Indian left-arm pacers, one of the names it gave me was Raymon Reifer. No disrespect to Reifer, but come on now, we can do better than that.

Eventually, it came down to two names: Sir Frank Worrell and Bernard Julien. As much as I love Sir Worrel and what he meant to the West Indies, I feel like selecting him for this role would be an injustice and a waste of his talents. For that reason (and my Trini bias), I had to go with my countryman, Bernard Julien. Do not get it twisted, though. He might look like a long-lost Mungo Jerry band member, but Julien wouldn’t be a slacker.

What Julien lacks in name recognition, he more than makes up for in the depth of knowledge and variations he developed during his tenure. Julien was a skilful swing bowler, capable of moving the ball both ways and varying his pace. This makes him perfect for T20 cricket, where changes of pace and subtle movement are gold. His lower cutters, subtle variations, and left-arm angle would be an ideal pair to a middle-over spinner, in addition to helping out at the death.

Julien’s selection also offers a lot of variability to the order. He’s more than capable of floating up the order and taking extra responsibility if a crash happens.

Buttressing all of that is his intelligence and cunning. He may not be the fastest, but he doesn’t need to be, we have Marshall and Roberts for that. Julien thrives when he’s asked to think his way through spells, and he does so in a way that most bowlers can’t. In that context, Bernard Julien is a no-brainer pick for this team.

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6. Pacing All-Rounder / Finisher

This is a critical role in any T20 side, someone who can bowl at serious pace and finish innings with the bat. This person’s name needs to induce fear in any opposition team, both with bat and ball. They need to be so prolific that entire opposition strategies are formed around them.

It feels impossible not to pick Sir Garfield Sobers here. You might accuse me of using a cheat code, but Sobers could genuinely bowl left-arm pace, orthodox spin, and wrist spin. And with the bat, he was as good as anyone who’s ever played the game. I mean, for heaven’s sake, the man hit six sixes in an over. What more do you want? He fits this role, any role, and every role.

5. Finisher

Now, this is where things get fun. This guy has one job: Come to the crease with five overs remaining and send every ball into the car park. Sir Gordon Greenidge is our star man. This pick will surprise a lot of people because he is primarily known for being an opening batsman, but had he been born in the 1990s or 2000s, I think Sir Greenidge would have adjusted his style of play to suit this role nicely. His natural power and range of shots just scream modern finisher, and he had the acumen and flair to perform the destructive Andre Russell-type batting this position warrants.

I think his bio on Cricinfo says it best:

“Attacking was in his genes. Never in the game has there been a more withering and dismissive square-cut, nor a more willing and able hooker and puller, but he drove mightily too on both sides of the wicket.”

4. Marlon Samuels Role (and Wicket-Keeper)

Arguably, the ‘Marlon Samuels role’ shouldn’t exist in the modern era of T20 teams, but unfortunately, the West Indies is not privileged enough to exist without it.

This role has always been that of the stylish but steady head — the batter who can slow down or accelerate depending on the match scenario. At the same time, the team is currently missing a solid wicket-keeper. Few batters in West Indies history fit both roles better than the batting stalwart and elite glovesman Jeffrey Dujon.

His ability to steadily accumulate runs often goes unsung, but he is someone who just knew how to build an innings. In addition to his solid batting reputation, his glove work was simply the best the region has ever seen in any format. He made the template that later T20 greats like Dinesh Ramdin emulated and adapted to suit the modern game.

He would also give this lineup a left-handed option and provide a calm presence to counterbalance the power-hitters.

3. Late Powerplay Hitter / Middle Order Attacker (and Captain)

This role is often where modern T20 sides inject raw power — a guy who comes in around the fifth to seventh over and keeps the pressure on. In the modern set-up, this role is typically reserved for Nicholas Pooran, and we see it repeated in other teams who deploy the likes of Jos Butler, Sk Yadav, and Aiden Markram.

For this spot, I have selected none other than Clive Lloyd. I know the Guyanese fans out there will be cheering this pick. Big, burly, and a natural six-hitter in his time, Lloyd was never afraid to take the aerial route. In a T20 world, you could see him coming in and just clearing ropes from ball one. He’s our ideal bridge between the openers and the back-end fireworks.

On the other hand, his tactical prowess and ability to dig into the crease when needed means he’d also be a perfect fit if an opener were to lose their wicket early. If you would allow me the pun, Lloyd fits this role like a glove.

Due to his versatile abilities as both a batter and a tactician, I also have Lloyd as my captain. His leadership would allow both the bowling attack and the batters to bring out their aggression and knock down whoever was in their way, Alzarri-style.

2. Slower Opener

This role is a bit more nuanced as you need someone capable of absorbing pressure, batting deep if needed, but also keeping the scoreboard ticking. Desmond Haynes comes to mind, and he would be a fine pick for the role, but I want some wristy brilliance and a little more flair, so Lawrence ‘Yagga’ Rowe is the man I would trust with this responsibility.

Yagga’s cool-under-pressure mentality makes him the perfect choice to anchor the start of an innings. He would allow others to bat around him while he steadily ticked the score forward with some of the most elegant drives you could ever hope to witness in cricket.

With so much batting prowess already in the side, from Lloyd to Sobers, the stability and class of Rowe is an affordable cost. When in form, he brings flair, pure aesthetic joy, and unpredictability, making him difficult to prepare for if you’re on the opposing team.

1. Attacking Opener

For this role, we’re looking for a player with natural flamboyance — someone who didn’t just accumulate but dominate. In this slot, Sir Viv Richards feels like the easiest call of the whole exercise. Sir Viv, with his swagger, power, and ability to intimidate bowlers, is the prototype of a modern T20 aggressor; the proto Evin Lewis or Chris Gayle.

Imagine being a fast bowler, thinking you're the baddest around, probably wearing two gold chains, then out strides Sir Viv, shirt buttons undone and not even wearing a helmet. His presence undoes whatever mental faculties exist in the bowler’s mind. You just know if T20 existed in his time, he’d be smashing 80 off 40 like it was routine.

The Lineup

Our historical West Indies T20 XI is as follows:

1. Sir Viv Richards

2. Lawrence Rowe

3. Clive Lloyd (C)

4. Jeffrey Dujon (WK)

5. Sir Gordon Greenidge

6. Sir Garry Sobers

7. Bernard Julien

8. Malcolm Marshall

9. Sir Andy Roberts

10. Sonny Ramadhin

11. Lance Gibbs

Putting this team together was never about building the perfect T20 side. Instead, it was about having some fun imagining how the legends of West Indies cricket might slot into a format they never played, but whose spirit they helped create. T20 cricket demands power, flair, intelligence, and ice-cold nerves — all qualities that have long been part of West Indies DNA.

Whether it’s the stride of Viv Richards, the cool elegance of Lawrence Rowe, the raw pace of Roberts and Marshall, or the crafty left-arm swing of Bernard Julien, you can easily see how these players could have thrived in the T20 era — even going so far as to redefine the format in their own way.

And sure, their stats might not match up to today’s standards, but the mentality was always there. It’s a fun reminder that before T20 cricket had a name, the West Indies were already playing a fearless and audacious brand of cricket that made the world stop and watch.

Now, if only we had a time machine and a CPL contract ready for these guys.

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"The best umpires are invisible until they’re needed. But when they’re needed, they must be right." — Steve Bucknor.

When we hear the name West Indies, uncles might envisage Golden Giants, Antiguan Knights, or a four-pronged pace attack. For youths, Gayle-Force winds and Pooran Power probably come to mind. Yet, lurking in the shadows remains probably the most under-discussed aspect of West Indies cricket. While the batsmen and bowlers are regularly bathed in stardom and lauded for their service in deconstructing colonial roots, umpires have played an equally crucial role in shaping the narrative around Caribbean cricket. They have often borne the weight of integrity, fairness, and internal politicking to combat racist rhetoric both on and off the pitch. Their journey, from the days of colonial Test matches to the hyper-scrutinised DRS era, mirrors the highs and lows of West Indies cricket itself.

Today, as the region searches for a new golden era, it must also ask: What happened to West Indian umpires, and why aren’t they leading on the global stage anymore?

The Early Years: Umpiring in the Shadow of an Empire

When the West Indies gained Test status almost a century ago in 1928, cricket was still a sport held in the bondage of British colonial roots. In those early days, umpires in the region were typically self-taught and selected from local, under-regulated leagues. Matches also relied upon local umpires, marring games in allegations of bias and corruption, though this issue was not unique to West Indian soil.

"In those days, if you were from Barbados and officiated in a Test against England, folks still thought you’d help your boys out. It was a no-win job." — Retired regional umpire Carl Brathwaite, Barbados Cricket Association.

Umpires of the era often maintained full-time jobs while umpiring part-time, viewing the skill as a duty or a hobby rather than a feasible career. Imagine requesting five days off work so you could umpire a Test match. Can't be me in this economy, inno.

A lack of exposure, respect, and standardised training were notable themes of the era, though many of these issues were repeated in the wider cricketing world. Operating in a region so far away from other major cricketing nations was another complication. Importing teaching materials from Australia or England, or allowing region-based umpires to travel between islands, was difficult to accomplish given the stage of global technological development.

Enter the Modern Era: The Rise of the Slow Death

For better or worse, the name Steve Bucknor, and his nickname, Slow Death, cannot be separated from West Indies history. His rise to become one of the most recognisable umpires in world cricket holds deep racial, political, and historical significance, especially within the Caribbean’s post-colonial context. Bucknor wasn’t just another official, he was a Black man from a once-colonised and colonially abused region stepping into a role traditionally dominated by white umpires from England, Australia, and South Africa. His calm authority on the field challenged centuries of cricketing hierarchy, where the ‘gentleman’s game’ was overseen by officials who rarely looked like the players from the developing world they were tasked with adjudicating. For many West Indians, seeing Bucknor at the centre of iconic Test matches was symbolic: proof that the Caribbean could produce not just cricketing greats but figures who upheld the game’s highest values of fairness and integrity on the global stage.

Politically, Bucknor’s career unfolded during a period in the late 1980s when the West Indies, as a cricketing entity, was still solidifying its identity. His ascent reflected a quiet but significant shift from being subjects of imperial cricket to becoming respected arbiters within it. By the 1990s, the West Indies’ dominance on the field was waning, but Bucknor’s presence reminded the world that the West Indian brand still carried weight in international cricket, not through power hitting or pace bowling, but through moral authority and impartiality in the game’s most sacred role.

Racially, Bucknor became a trailblazer in an era where very few Black umpires were trusted with the game’s biggest moments. His appointment to officiate five consecutive World Cup Finals between 1992 and 2007 was unprecedented and is a record that still stands today. It sent a powerful message, particularly to aspiring umpires from the Global South, that excellence in officiating wasn’t confined to England or Australia. Yet, Bucknor’s visibility also subjected him to harsher criticism, particularly from fans and media in India and Australia, where contentious decisions occasionally sparked racially-motivated backlashes. Still, Bucknor weathered those storms with stoicism, becoming a symbol of Black professionalism in a space where few like him had stood before.

Historically, Bucknor’s legacy extends beyond the records he set. He redefined the image of the Caribbean cricket official, morphing from a peripheral figure in regional games to a global standard-bearer. His calm movements, particularly the way he slowly raised his finger, became part of cricket’s folklore. But more importantly, his career paved the way for conversations about umpiring diversity, representation, and the Caribbean’s place in the governance of the sport. In many ways, Steve Bucknor wasn’t just umpiring matches, he was umpiring history.

"I have made mistakes. All umpires do. But the game moves on, and players move on. Umpires must do the same." — Steve Bucknor (in a 2009 interview).

The DRS Bacchanal

The introduction of the Decision Review System (DRS) is seen as one of the most monumental technological leaps since the invention of doubles with slight everything. The technology, although originally engineered for cricket, has influenced other sports, including the VAR system used in football. In the context of the cricketing world, it is very difficult to argue against DRS being a divine boon. That said, in the specific context of the region, DRS has been met with both praise and cuss-outs regarding its impact on the game, especially in extreme high-pressure moments.

The system, which includes technologies such as Hawk-Eye for ball tracking and Ultra-Edge for detecting faint edges, was designed to provide more accurate decision-making and reduce the likelihood of errors. For West Indian umpires, many of whom had grown accustomed to making decisions based solely on their experience and judgment, the arrival of DRS presented both an opportunity and a challenge. On one hand, it offered a means to correct wrong decisions and provided a safety net. However, the reliance on technology also placed a level of pressure on them, as every decision was now open to review and public scrutiny.

One of the key impacts of DRS on West Indian umpires is the training and adaptation required to use the system effectively. While top-tier umpires like Steve Bucknor and Joel Wilson had exposure to DRS in international matches, many Caribbean umpires working in regional competitions were not as familiar with the technology. This created a disparity in experience between international and domestic officials. For those officiating local matches in the Caribbean, there was often no access to the technology, making it harder for them to maintain consistency when promoted to international duties. It would be like your boss demanding that you use a new system at work but not bothering to explain how it works. When these umpires did encounter DRS in higher-profile matches, they were often criticised for being slow or hesitant in using the technology to review decisions, which affected the flow of the game and sometimes their confidence in making calls.

Regional inequality in the availability of DRS further complicated the situation. While international matches involving the West Indies benefited from DRS, domestic competitions like the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) or regional first-class cricket rarely had access to the technology. This created a gap in experience for Caribbean umpires, who were often called to officiate at the highest level without the preparation of using DRS in domestic settings. The system exposed the lack of infrastructure and training for West Indian umpires compared to their counterparts in countries like Australia, England, and India, where the technology was regularly used at the domestic level. As a result, the Caribbean’s umpiring pool struggled to gel with the new era of technology-driven decision-making, which slowed their professional growth and hindered their ability to perform confidently when faced with DRS challenges on the international stage.

"It was tough, but that’s the job now. Players are judged, so why not us? You just work hard, review footage, and try to be better next match." — Joel Wilson (2019 post-Ashes interview).

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Where Are the West Indies’ Umpires Now?

So where does that leave us? The current umpiring situation in the region reflects the mixed bag of progression and stagnation that has haunted both umpire and playerbase alike. Although the region once supplied the global game with some of the most renowned umpires in the world, today it grapples with a combination of underrepresentation on the global stage and the challenges of modern cricketing technology.

Joel Wilson, who continues to be the only West Indian representative to serve on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, remains a rare success story in that regard. Having risen through the ranks in the Caribbean to become one of the top officials in the game, Wilson's career symbolises the potential for West Indian umpires to reach the highest levels of the profession. However, despite Wilson's accomplishments, his journey remains exceptional, and the overall number of Caribbean umpires at the top international level has dwindled over the years.

The issue of regional insularity is another complication. It is almost impossible to talk about West Indies cricket without repeatedly mentioning insularity. The region’s members have diverse cricketing cultures, yet they all seem to struggle with internal competition and politics, which often undermines the development of a unified umpiring structure. Umpires in the region must contend with accusations of bias in inter-island competitions, while the reluctance to use foreign umpires in domestic matches has prevented the necessary cross-pollination of ideas and expertise. This insularity has, in turn, stymied the creation of a professional system that could nurture and develop local umpiring talent for the international stage.

How Can Windies Umpires Rise Again?

The revival of West Indies umpiring on the global stage is a sticky wicket. To regain prominence on the international stage, the region must begin by addressing the key issue of infrastructure and training. The disparity between regional and international umpiring standards, especially in the face of modern technology like DRS, is a significant obstacle, so providing local umpires with consistent access to such tools, alongside comprehensive training, would help level the playing field. By creating a more robust development pathway, with exposure to international best practices, the region can start to close the knowledge gap and produce umpires who are confident and capable when officiating at the highest level.

Joel Wilson’s success has shown that with the right opportunities, the region can still produce world-class officials. With investment, commitment, and a focus on education and technology, West Indies umpiring can once again lead the cricketing world, reflecting the same integrity, fairness, and pride that the region has long been known for on the playing field. The time has come for West Indies umpires to reclaim their place on the global stage, ensuring their legacy is honoured and their contributions recognised.

"The Caribbean knows cricket. The Caribbean lives cricket. It’s time our umpires got the respect and the training to show the world we can lead from the middle again." — Retired WI pacer turned TV pundit, Ian Bishop.

Addendum:

When this article was written, Joel Wilson was on the ICC Elite Panel, however, he was subsequently removed on March 25th 2025. This means the West Indies now has no representative on the Elite Panel, which underscores the importance of rebuilding the umpire development systems in the region. Regardless of your opinion on Wilson’s quality as an umpire, being unrepresented in this aspect of cricket is a dangerous situation to be in. In an era where negative rumours spread quickly, now more than ever, it is important to have a voice at the highest level of the game.

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Thank you to Steph Jaggassar for her article you can find her on Substack - here

The Caribbean Cricket Podcast is on Facebook and of course you can also find us on X and Instagram and all other social media platforms.

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Background

Every Monday, the Caribbean Cricket Podcast hosts a call-in show where fans voice opinions and ask questions. On March 10th, Luis Granada called in and raised a key concern: Where are the proper off-spinners in the region?

He noted that slow left-arm (SLA) spinners dominate, overshadowing off-spin, with only Kevin Sinclair and Rakheem Cornwall in serious contention for the senior West Indies team. However, naturally, both of these names come with concerns.

For wider context, check out the original call-in episode

(Luis’ segment starts at 1:04:21) and you also read his article on regional spin effectiveness.

When I heard Luis’ comment, I thought to myself, “buh wait nuh- mans has a point inno. That is it.”

The Bigger Issue: Spin Overload

Ultimately, I agree with Luis. However, I think the issue is much wider than just off-spin bowling. I think it is fair to say that the 4-Day Championship is at a state where every team has identified certain trends and characteristics of the tournament and are playing to those ideals to win.

Generally, spin does better than pace/seam, therefore spin bowlers are getting more overs. And even within that, Slow Left Arm Orthodox bowlers, because they turn the ball away from the right hander, have been more destructive overall. This leads to SLAers being prioritized over others. This is the context that has led to the rise and dominance of Warrican, Permaul, Pierre, Joshua Bishop, and others.

Possibly the most egregious example of this occurred in the match between Barbados and Combined Campuses and Colleges from March 5th-7th, 2025 in Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Table 1: Showing the Overs, Wickets, and Economy of all Bowlers Used by Barbados across both Innings

Out of 137.2 overs bowled, spin accounted for 55%, and more microscopically, 44 of the 81 overs on Day 1 going to spinners—on a “pacey and bouncy” pitch (as described by Cricinfo).

Is there something to be said about those spinners in the Barbados attack also being the most expensive?

Possibly. It alludes to the mismatch between the bowling type and the pitch conditions. Despite the pacers adding more pressure onto the batters throughout the game, Barbados continued to brute force the innings with spin and it clearly worked with spinners taking 15 of the available 20 wickets.

To avoid claims that I cherry picked that match, I also compared the over distribution between the top six spin bowlers and the top six pacers as listed by Cricinfo’s rankings as of round 4 2025:

Table 2: Showing the Overs Distribution Between the Top six Spinners and the Top six Pacers

The trend is clear. The West Indies 4-Day Championship is underscored by the dominance of spin bowlers. It reflects a broader shift in the competition, with spinners bowling out bowling their pace counterparts. This has been the trend for several seasons, with spinners bowling 1.38 times more overs than pacers in 2025, 1.64 times more in 2024, and 1.36 times more in 2023.

This points to the far deeper issue in the region. Simply, The quality of batsmen in the West Indies is so poor that it negates pitch conditions, proficiencies, years, etc. The region’s reliance on spin transcends every category of play.

Now, we can look beyond just identifying the problem. What if we could implement some regulations to rebalance the influence of spinners? Could it help build a more diverse and competitive bowling landscape in the West Indies?

A Solution: Implementing Regulations

Disclaimer: I am not claiming any of the following will be a promethean gift to the region. However, I do want to stress, any solution in tandem with other systemic and systematic overhauls would go a long way to patching the bowling and batting standards in the region.

While the word regulation can refer to a lot with a plethora of nuances between each suggestion, I am only proposing 3 variations that all revolve around the common ideal of limiting the usage of spin bowling in the region’s 4-Day Championship.

Variation 1: Wicket Cap

In this implementation, Cricket West Indies would dictate that a spin bowler is only allowed to take ‘X’ amount of wickets per innings (ideally 2-3 wickets per individual), after which, they must be taken out of the bowling attack until the next innings.

Alternatively, if capping the entire innings is too extreme, they can cap the wickets taken by spinners per session of each innings. This can either be a flat limit on all sessions (eg. saying a spinner can take a max of 3 wickets regardless of which session it’s in and then in the following session, they can take another 3 wickets) or can be different depending on each session on each day, allowing more wickets to be taken on late-day sessions or on day 4 overall, but more strictly limiting spin options on Day 1 and 2 sessions.

One way this specific idea could be abused is if the team overload their 11s with spinners, so that whenever one spinner must be taken off, they have several more ready to slot in. An amendment to this idea to address that issue could simply mean adjusting the target wicket count and applying the policy to the entire team instead of just individual players, Meaning that once the team has taken 3 wickets using spin (for example) in an innings, they must use only pacers until the next session.

Variation 2: Over Cap

An alteration to the above would be to limit the overs allocated to spin bowlers, either at the individual level or on the entire team.

This could mean a maximum of 35-45% of the overs bowled in a match/session are given to spinners while the rest would be required to use pace/seam bowlers. This would more equitably cater to the pace bowling development in the region as you are asking to play a heavier workload in a wider variety of conditions.

Furthermore, it demands that the team be more careful in how they manage their spin bowlers, making it less appealing to brute force the spin attack on mismatching conditions.

Variation 3: Round-By-Round Requirements:

This is my personal favorite option of the three.

In this option, CWI would designate each round to a particular bowling type before the tournament starts, similarly to how the Kookaburra and Dukes balls were allocated to different rounds. Round 1 may be Pace, 2 could be SLA, 3 could be Off Spin, and so on.

In this situation, similar to the above situations, every round, the team would be required to give that particular bowling type the majority of the overs available, regardless of the pitch conditions. In theory, this should help develop a variety of bowling types, not allowing them to be drowned out by the innate weaknesses of the region’s batters.

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Counter Arguments:

One major assumption in this proposal is that restricting spin will improve West Indian batters' ability against pace. However, there is no guarantee that increased exposure to fast bowling in the regional tournament will translate into better performances at the international level. The regional setup has already failed to prepare players for high-quality spin, so simply shifting the balance toward pace may not yield the desired results. A more effective solution might be to increase overseas tours, giving West Indian batters experience in conditions where pace is dominant, such as England, Australia, and South Africa.

The challenge, however, is funding. The financial constraints of Cricket West Indies have long hindered efforts to expand A-team tours. Without significant investment, a more feasible alternative would be scheduling more bilateral first-class matches within the region—such as Trinidad touring Guyana for additional red-ball games outside the tournament window. While not a perfect solution, this could still provide batters with a broader range of conditions without needing expensive overseas travel.

Another concern is whether these regulations would stifle natural talent. Players like Veerasammy Permaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, and Jomel Warrican have thrived under the current system. Artificially reducing their influence could limit their development and deny them the chance to prove themselves at higher levels.

This is true. However, regulations can always be revised. If the issue of spin dominance eventually resolves itself, restrictions can be lifted. Additionally, some proposals—such as the round-by-round bowling requirements—do not simply suppress spin but instead encourage a more balanced development across all bowling types.

Perhaps the strongest criticism is that these regulations interfere with the natural flow of the game. Cricket is unpredictable, and imposing artificial limits on a bowler’s impact disrupts its competitive integrity. If a spinner is dismantling the opposition, why should they be removed simply because they’ve reached a wicket cap? This could lead to situations where teams are forced to use less effective bowlers, reducing the fairness of the contest.

That said, the primary purpose of the 4-Day Championship should be player development, not just competition. If its structure truly prioritized competitive integrity, it would include semifinals and a final rather than relying solely on a points-based system.

Recent history shows that dominant performances at this level do not always translate into international success—Mikyle Louis’s run-scoring feats last season were quickly forgotten when he failed to replicate them on the bigger stage. If the tournament isn’t reliably preparing players for the highest level, then changes must be considered, even if they seem unconventional.

These regulations may not be a perfect solution, but they highlight an undeniable issue: regional batters face an unbalanced spin-heavy environment that isn’t serving their long-term growth. Some argue that since West Indies batters struggle against spin, they need to face more of it, but the evidence suggests otherwise. If repeated exposure were enough, they would have already improved. Instead, it may be time to rethink the approach—perhaps a temporary shift in focus toward pace bowling could help build confidence and provide a better foundation for facing international attacks.

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Final Thoughts:

Some may argue these ideas turn the 4-Day Championship into a glorified training camp. My response? Isn’t that what the tournament is supposed to be? The tournament exists to assess regional players’ readiness for international cricket and A-Team tours, not just to determine a champion. If pure competition was the goal, a semi-final/final structure would be in place instead of a simple points-based system. At least, that is how I see it.

These regulations may not be perfect, but they acknowledge a clear issue: our batters already have limited regional matches, especially when compared to other nations around our level (Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.) to develop their skills. We cannot make that issue worse by exposing them to an unbalanced spin-heavy environment that stunts their growth. We cannot continue seeing Veerasammy Permaul and Rakheem Cornwall getting 10-15 more wickets than the next pacer in the rankings every year. These suggestions speak to that developmental ideal, even if flawed.

What do you think about these regulations? Should spin dominance be controlled?

Use the comments below to share your thoughts.

Post Scriptum Thoughts: Regarding Batting Regulations

Along the same lines of regulating how bowlers are used in these regional tournaments, I wonder if it would be worth visiting regulating the batters specifically regarding their ages. Afterall, similar policies have been implemented in franchise tournaments around the world, most notably the fan-coined ‘Dhoni Rule’ in the IPL.

In the context of the 4-day Championship, it could mean looking at each player over the age of 35 and asking when was the last time they got called up to the West Indian side in any format. If the answer is 2 years or greater, then there can be a restriction in how many games the player can be in. For instance, they can be in the 11 of a team in any 3 of the 7 rounds. In the remainder of the season, the player can be in the wider squad of 14-15 but cannot be in the 11. There can also be a secondary policy asking these players to take up mentor roles in the team during that time.

The reason I opted for this thought instead of the clean ban is the Kemar Roach situation. Roach has taken a step back from being a frontline bowler in the senior test side, and instead occupies a middle ground between player and mentor. This is especially beneficial as the team currently has so many younger pace bowlers in the set up from Seales, Shamar Joseph, and speculations about two more to come.

Furthermore, with players like Jason Mohammed dominating the batting stats as of round 4 in 2025, an argument against the clean age ban would still allow developing players to bowl against experienced ones, as well as allowing those experienced players to offer on-pitch guidance in tough game situations.

This suggestion takes both of those into account and, hopefully, allows these veteran players to benefit the team on the pitch, while giving the space needed for younger players to take more responsibility in guiding the innings either with bat or with ball.

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During my studies in Germany, I had a flatmate who was interning at the local football club, Hamburg Sport Verein (HSV).

Naturally, sports was how we decided to bond with one another. One night, while he played FIFA on his PS4, he expressed frustrations with sporting culture and said, “keep politics and sports separate”. I didn’t say anything in the moment, but naturally, I disagreed with him.

Modern sport is inherently political, especially in the case of West Indies cricket and its global impact. Sports is politics on a turf.

Cricket West Indies, a singular team that represents an entire region of diverse cultures and peoples across two continents, has been a medium of unity for over a century. It has withstood the rise and fall of federations and organisations that sought to do exactly what the sports team was already doing by accident - bring together the region into a collective voice- to consolidate power on the global stage so that the people within the region can never go overlooked again.

Some may argue that Cricket West Indies no longer holds the same technocratic power and unity as before. However, the West Indies brand still carries enough significance to remain relevant in this discussion.

While cricket naturally unified the Caribbean, political institutions struggled to do the same. The West Indies Federation ultimately failed, but from its ashes, CARICOM emerged in 1973 as the region’s economic and political union.

It is contentious if CARICOM, especially in modernity, does enough to foster a cohesive identity, not only between the individual nations under her jurisdiction, but also between the individual peoples therein.

Ask yourself the question right now– do you feel closer to the region because of CARICOM? Or because of cricket? I know my answer.

I attended a T20 World Cup match where the West Indies played New Zealand and I sat next to Jamaicans, Barbadians, Trinidadians, Americans, and Guyanese. Despite not knowing any of them before that match, during the game, they were my siblings. We shared food and cheers and when Nicholas Pooran’s wicket fell, we threw curses at the pitch together. When the entire stadium sang Rally Round the West Indies with David Rudder, I felt a oneness I had literally never felt before.

For most people, it doesn't matter that Clive Lloyd was from Guyana; he led the West Indies during our 20 year domination, and in so doing, represented all of us, just as Sir Viv Richards and Sir Ambrose, Lara, Gayle, and Sarwan did. When those players wore their badges, they stopped representing their island solely, and became emblems for every person on West Indian soil. It is in this context that the question is begged, “Has West Indies Cricket united the region more than CARICOM?”.

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Cricket As a Political Weapon:

"Cricket had plunged me into politics long before I was aware of it. When I did turn to politics, I did not have too much to learn." C.L.R. James, Beyond a Boundary.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way- whilst CARICOM has been used as a governing tool, cricket in the West Indies needed to stand against and upend the roots of colonialism.

As Dr. Claudius Fergus phrased it, cricket in the 1950s, “was the domain of white elites before the African working class.”, where figures like C.L.R. James sought to dismantle the “British West Indies” iconography by forcing the installation of the first black captain. See the full address by Dr Claudius Fergus, Deryck Murray and Philo Wallace here

From that moment onwards, from the second Frank Worrell became Cricket West Indies’ first black captain, every run scored and wicket taken was an affront to the colonial powers. Every run was a march for freedom. The very existence of the team was a declaration:

‘We, the sons and grandsons of your former slaves, are not lesser than you. We may not even be equal. We are stronger, smarter, and more powerful than you ever realised, and we will confront you.’

That message transcended all of the differences in religion, colour, gender, etc. in the region. It was our rallying cry. Cricket stopped being a game and even the team’s national anthem embodied that spirit with the opening line;

“No noble thoughts brought us here to this region, but through it all we have risen above,” David Rudder.

These rebellious roots only dug deeper upon winning the first ever Cricket World Cup against England at Lord’s. To everyone in the Caribbean, it was like beating your landlord at Monopoly and then refusing to pay rent.

Dominic Malcolm expands on this idea in far more detail than I can here in his book, “ Globalizing Cricket: Codification, Colonization and Contemporary Identities.”

While cricket was a tool of defiance against colonial rule on the global stage, its impact did not stop there. Beyond politics, cricket seeped into the everyday lives of Caribbean people at the individual level, shaping personal identities, cultural expressions, our infrastructure, and even childhood memories.

Cricket at the Individual Level

Even outside the international spotlight, cricket has quietly stitched the Caribbean together. From schoolyards to local tournaments, the sport forges cross-border relationships early. Young cricketers train and compete across islands, blending national identities into a shared West Indian experience. You don’t just play for your home island; you play for the region.

Take the Caribbean Premier League (CPL)—an economic venture, sure, but also an incubator for regional solidarity. Trinidadians cheered for the Barbados Tridents in 2016 because half the squad was Trini. Nicholas Pooran, a Trinidadian, found a second home under the Guyanese and Barbadian flags. These weren’t just contracts; they were cultural exchanges, reinforcing a deeper bond that politics often fails to nurture.

Off the field, cricket seeps into everyday life. I studied "Test Match Sabina Park" by Stewart Brown in school, read Michael Anthony’s "Cricket in the Road", and just last week, I spotted a children’s book titled "I Am a Cricketer" in my local bookstore. I remember the old man on my street who threatened us with an old cricket bat for stealing his mangoes. I pass by Brian Lara’s statue every week, a permanent fixture in Trinidadian life. Whether we realize it or not, cricket is a living history book—an unwritten curriculum of Caribbean identity.

You don’t have to like the sport to feel its presence. Meanwhile, CARICOM—a body explicitly created to unify the region—has yet to achieve the same cultural entrenchment. Where cricket naturally fosters unity, CARICOM remains an abstract institution, struggling to make its presence truly felt.

The Failures of CARICOM as a Uniter:

In contrast, CARICOM lacks the flamboyant and rebellious history of CWI. Yes, it was born from the idea of unity, however, since its formation, the organisation has not been able to achieve similar feats and moments where the nations felt truly represented on the global stage.

Part of this is due to CARICOM having never seriously faced an external threat the same way Cricket West Indies faced England. England was the region’s catalyst for unity- a villain bigger than any nation alone. CARICOM, on the other hand, has only faced internal challenges. Its impact has been limited by political divisions, economic disparities, and slow decision-making processes. Issues such as trade agreements, immigration policies, and currency integration breed disagreements, weakening the vision of a united Caribbean.

Insularity and bureaucracy; a poison that affects Cricket West Indies, however, it appears that it is much more deep rooted into CARICOM as member states prioritize national sovereignty over regional unity.

Unlike the European Union, it has failed to establish shared governance that benefits all. This political fragmentation fuels bureaucratic inefficiencies—agreements take years to ratify, often delayed by political maneuvering, competing interests, and outright obstruction from nations unwilling to compromise - or as we say in the Caribbean, Politricking.

This sluggishness reduces CARICOM’s effectiveness especially in responding to time-sensitive regional challenges, making it almost impossible to effectively represent and amplify the voices of the people of the region.

Economics; just as the region is diverse in its culture, religion, ethnic background, etc, so too are the member states vastly different from one another on the economic platform. Nations like Trinidad and Tobago and, recently, Guyana maintain their economies primarily through resource management and exportation, with things like Carnival, nature, and food only subsidising the primary economic diuretic.

Naturally, policies that are beneficial to them would hardly be as beneficial to service-based economies like Barbados or tourism-centered economies like Antigua and Barbuda. This inability to settle upon economic policies that are equally beneficial to all members lock CARICOM in a permanent state of inaction. Additionally, intra-regional trade remains weak due to tariffs, inconsistent regulations, and protectionist policies that undermine the goal of a Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Sometimes, it feels like CARICOM’s only financial plan is hoping Trinidad and Guyana keep discovering oil.

Free movement; Ask a Caribbean person about free movement within CARICOM, and they’ll grumble about airport struggles. Ask about free movement on a cricket field, and they’ll tell you how Yagga danced through England’s bowling attack. Free movement for work and residence remains one of CARICOMS failed promises. It has faced resistance from several countries, particularly regarding concerns over labor market competition and immigration control. As a result, many Caribbean citizens still face bureaucratic nonsense when moving between member states.

Crisis Response; CARICOM has failed to respond effectively to regional crises. Whether it be natural disasters, political instability (as seen in Haiti), or economic downturns, the organization has lacked coordinated and decisive action when it mattered most. CARICOM’s historical inaction has eroded trust, leading nations to seek external aid instead.

All of these factors, and more evinces the defects in CARICOM as an organisation and the inability of it to represent and unify the region under common economic, foreign, administrative, governance plans and policies.

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Can CARICOM Learn From the West Indies?

The shortcomings of CARICOM have stalled its ability to foster a truly united Caribbean. But while these challenges are deeply rooted, they are not insurmountable. The very thing that CARICOM struggles to achieve—regional cohesion—has already been accomplished by West Indies cricket. So, rather than reinventing the wheel, CARICOM should look to the lessons embedded in our sporting history. What can it learn from a team that has, for generations, made the Caribbean feel like one?

Develop a shared identity – West Indies cricket thrives on a unified Caribbean identity, emphasizing regional pride over individual national interests. For a stronger CARICOM, it needs to likewise develop this aspect to better represent the region. One pathway to achieve this is to encourage cultural and social integration by promoting shared Caribbean values through education, media, and events that foster regional belonging. Schools could introduce more Caribbean history and cultural studies in their curricula before the 6th form level to reinforce a sense of unity. Regional media houses could focus on content that highlights Caribbean achievements and interconnections. Additionally, initiatives such as a Caribbean Youth Forum or regional exchange programs could cultivate a new generation that sees itself as part of a collective Caribbean identity rather than just a citizen of an individual nation.

Engage youth and grassroots movements – Cricket has remained relevant by engaging young players through local leagues and training programs. CARICOM can adopt a similar approach by creating youth-focused initiatives that encourage regional participation in politics, business, and cultural exchanges. Establishing mentorship programs, funding start-ups led by young entrepreneurs, and fostering regional student summits could help strengthen cross-border collaborations.

Prioritize action over bureaucracy – Cricket teams operate with decisive leadership, clear goals, and streamlined decision-making. The structure and procedure with which CARICOM uses to act in disaster situations needs to be overhauled and replaced with a scaled-response plan. The more severe the crisis, the more imperative it is to act quickly. This can only be done by developing disaster mitigation strategies during the ‘Blue Sky Period’ before there are any ongoing issues. It is known that the region is prone to storms/hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic activities. CARICOM should not wait until an event is happening to then plan action. It is known that an event will happen beforehand, and so, preparations need to be done beforehand.

Use sports and culture to strengthen regional ties – The success of West Indies cricket marries together the themes of sport and culture in the region. As a result, they become naturally enshrined in our collective identity. CARICOM could invest more in regional sporting events, music, and arts festivals to bring Caribbean people together in a way that transcends politics. Hosting an annual Caribbean sports festival or regional cultural expo could provide new opportunities for cross-border engagement.

Foster collaborative leadership – This particular point is not unique to West Indies Cricket nor to CARICOM but is a managerial axiom notwithstanding. West Indies cricket teams have been most successful under strong, collaborative leadership that unites diverse national backgrounds under a common goal. CARICOM can learn from this by developing stronger leadership structures that focus on collective regional progress rather than nationalistic divisions. Creating leadership development programs that find the middle ground between cooperation and competition could help instill a stronger sense of unity among Caribbean politicians and business leaders.

Encourage a Competitive but cooperative spirit – Cricket thrives on healthy competition while still promoting teamwork and mutual respect. CARICOM should encourage member states to embrace friendly competition specifically in economic and social development, pushing each other to succeed while maintaining regional cooperation. Initiatives such as an annual "Caribbean innovation challenge" could drive progress while fostering camaraderie between nations.

Conclusion

West Indies cricket has long embodied the unity that CARICOM strives to achieve. It has served as a cultural and political force that brings the Caribbean together in ways that treaties and policies have failed to do. Through the sport, the people of the region have found common ground, a shared identity, and a sense of pride that transcends national boundaries. Cricket has been a medium of resistance, an avenue for representation, and a platform for regional solidarity. It has created an emotional connection among Caribbean people that CARICOM, with its bureaucratic and often sluggish approach, has struggled to replicate.

That is not to say that CARICOM is without merit. The institution plays a vital role in the governance, economic planning, and diplomatic affairs of the region. However, its shortcomings—political fragmentation, economic disparities, and ineffective decision-making—crippled its ability to foster a true sense of regional identity. If CARICOM is to fulfill its mission of uniting the Caribbean, it must adopt the spirit of West Indies cricket: decisive leadership, shared vision, and a prioritization of people over politics. By embracing cultural unity and learning from the sport that has already brought the region together, CARICOM can take meaningful steps toward becoming a truly effective vehicle for Caribbean integration.

In the end, the Caribbean’s unity cannot be dictated solely by political agreements; it must be felt in the hearts of its people. CARICOM must now learn how to do the same. Afterall, cricket has already done this. Cricket is the only place where a Jamaican and a Guyanese can high-five over a common goal that isn’t rum.

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After a quiet sporting period of seven years with barely any high-level cricket being played, Caribbean society was in a state of flux.

By the end of the 1930s, labour revolts throughout the region became increasingly widespread. The centralisation of the plantation economy, which had plagued its society since its inception, created enormous unemployment in places like Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, prompting a large migration from traditionally rural communities into the major urban centres in search of jobs.

Working conditions had not improved in the slightest. With the price of sugar plummeting, workers in Saint Kitts demanded better wages and working rights, leading to a strike that resulted in three fatalities. In Trinidad, a number of workers’ organisations had begun to emerge, particularly within the oil industry, such as the Negro Welfare and Cultural Association, which organised hunger marches. During the same period, the United States stopped accepting West Indian migrants, causing a huge population influx back into the islands—largely unemployed and without infrastructure or support.

The Royal Commission Report of 1938 summarised the situation in Jamaica and the dire living conditions faced by many returning migrants: ‘At Orange Bay the commissioner saw people living in huts, the walls of which were bamboo, knitted together as closely as human hands were capable; the ceilings were made from dry chipped coconut branches which shifted their positions with every wind.’

Heading into the post-war period, the Nazi bombings of Britain had caused vast destruction to local infrastructure and industry. The solution was to bring in migrant workers to aid in reconstruction. At the same time, in 1944, a hurricane struck Jamaica, devastating large portions of the banana and coconut plantations. Thousands lost their homes due to the natural disaster, and thousands more were displaced due to unemployment. For many of these individuals, the logical option was to seek work in the British Isles—sometimes temporarily, sometimes indefinitely.

Known as the Windrush period, the number of Caribbean people in Britain rose from around 8,000 in 1931 to over 170,000 in 1961. A new West Indian presence was established in England, reshaping not only society but also language and culture forever. A tremendous influence in this period was the Caribbean Labour Congress (CLC), established in 1945 to provide a more effective platform for Caribbean political figures and union leaders. It grew into an inter-island organisation focusing on an independent West Indian federation and self-reliance.

Their influence spread to England when they opened a branch in 1948, supporting federation and fostering a strong nationalist, anti-colonial mentality. At the time, they were the driving force behind West Indian nationalism in Britain. George Padmore himself stated at one meeting, ‘Federation is the immediate objective.’ As the author Eleanor Kramer-Taylor claims in her article Forging the West Indian Nation, the London branch was ‘for its contemporaries, a beacon of Caribbean nationalism in Britain.’

While all these events were shaping and influencing society at large, in February 1946 at Port of Spain, two Bajans set the record for the highest West Indian partnership in any format—574 runs for the fourth wicket. These two individuals would fundamentally change cricket in the Caribbean: Clyde Walcott, a tall man, over six feet in height with a strong physique, also served as a wicketkeeper, scoring 314 not out. His partner, Frank Worrell—the future captain of the team—was tall and lean, batted right-handed but bowled left-arm slow. He was a class apart, and Wisden described him in remarkable terms: ‘For beauty of stroke, no one in the history of the game can have excelled Worrell.’ A missing name from that innings was Everton Weekes—shorter and more compact than the other two, quick on his feet and a natural cutter of the ball. Having played a match in January 1945 after returning from war duties, he joined Walcott and Worrell for the first time in a match for Barbados in Trinidad.

In 1948, nearly ten years after the last Test played by the West Indies, they embarked on their first post-war tour. In stark contrast, England had already played four series by this point. Arguments could have been made that this was not a full-strength English side, but the sheer difference in match experience between the two teams rendered those arguments meaningless. Yet in 11 first-class matches and four Tests, England were completely outplayed and embarrassed, failing to win a single match. Gubby Allen, the English captain, had an embarrassing campaign—at 45 years old, he was nowhere near fit for any of the matches, even pulling a calf muscle while descending the boat. Wisden paints a remarkably pathetic image of the team, unable to handle the heat or the constant travel between the islands. The only player who fared well was Jim Laker, arguably England’s finest off-spinner of all time, who took 18 wickets in seven innings.

It is in the first Test match of this tour where we see the first black captain of the West Indies, George Headley, at 38 years old and still playing for the team, now having the opportunity of captaining the side. In the first innings he only made 29 and pulled a muscle fielding when England was batting second. He would not take part in any of the other matches cutting his captaincy short.

In the first Test at Kensington Oval, two of the Ws would partake: Walcott behind the stumps and opening the batting, and Weekes batting at three. Worrell did not play in the first Test due to suffering from a case of food poisoning; it just wasn’t meant to be.

The stars of the match were Stollmeyer, who was still playing well even after the war, and Gerry Gomez, a batting all-rounder with a good and quick action. The two of them got the team to 244/3 on the first day. Laker, however, broke the partnership, and the other wickets fell quickly ending the first innings on 296.

The pace attack of Prior Jones, Foffie Williams, and Berkeley was able to get seven wickets and finished England’s knock for only 253. Still leading by 43, West Indies came out to bat again. Robert Christiani was the standout in the second innings. A fine, gritty, right-handed Guyanese batsman, he scored 99 yet as as good a knock as it was by Christiani, Foffie Williams was the one to break records that day. In his first six deliveries, he scored 28 runs, hitting Jim Laker for two sixes and then two fours in a row. He went on to score the fastest half-century by a West Indian at the time, in only 30 minutes, and ended up with 72 from 96 balls.

After scoring 351, the West Indies declared and gave England an impossible target of 394. It would not be a dramatic finish, with rain coming at four wickets down and the match ending in a draw.

The second match was also a draw, with rain on Sunday losing two hours of play and making the outfield sluggish. Stollmeyer was out with an injury. With Headley being ruled out of the tour, Gerry Gomez took the captaincy, and Frank Worrell, feeling better, came back into the side for the second Test in Trinidad. Again, there were no major scores from Walcott or Weekes, but Worrell, in his first international innings, went on to score a beautiful 97, delighting the crowd and journalists with his impeccable control and movement. Nothing else of note occurred, with the exception of Wilf Ferguson, a Trinidadian leg-spinner, who got his best innings figures of 6/92 and a match ten-wicket haul, with 11/229 in the match. The most humorous part of this spell was that whenever he took his hat off, the crowd would cheer loudly at the sight of his clean-shaven bald head.

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The next two Tests were a showcase of West Indian domination. Frank Worrell scored an unbeaten 131* as the West Indies posted 297. England could only score 111 in reply and when the follow on was enforced they were only able to score 263 runs, leaving West Indies a comfortable chase and a seven wicket victory.

In the final Test at Sabina the three Ws came to the fore. The match’s star was Everton Weekes, scoring the highest score of the entire series with 141 runs, driving well and confidently with no sign of hurry. With 490 on the board, the standout bowling performance was from Hines Johnson, a Jamaican fast bowler, who got the best bowling figures for a West Indian on Test debut with 10/96.

The West Indies eventually won by 10 wickets sealing an unbeaten series.

Not long after England had left at the end of April, the men in maroon embarked on their first-ever tour of India in November of the same year until February of 1949. It was a full tour with five Test matches, all of them allocated five days for play, but even then, four were drawn, with only one victory for the West Indies side in the fourth Test at Chennai. The draws were not caused by bad weather as much as they were caused by a weak pace attack. With no Hines Johnson in the squad, the only standout performance was from Prior Jones, who got 17 wickets in ten innings, averaging 28 apiece; all other bowlers, with the exception of Gomez, averaged above 35.

As bad as the bowling was, the batting was utterly dominant. Allan Rae made his debut on the tour, a white, middle-class Jamaican opener, genuinely chosen for merit, unlike some of the previous white players who were of a solely upper-class background.

Rae had a brilliant season, averaging 53.43, with two centuries and a high score of 109, together with Stollmeyer in the 4th Test, they established a record first-wicket partnership of 239 for the West Indies. Headley was called in for the tour, but at his advanced age, he only played in the first Test, which would be his last international match.

Most importantly, this was the breakout tour for Clyde Walcott and Everton Weekes, the former scoring 152 in the first Test, taking part in the highest fourth-wicket partnership at the time with Gerry Gomez, with 267 runs scored between them. In the same innings, Weekes went on to score 128 runs in just over 3 hours.

While Walcott did brilliantly, averaging 64.57 and keeping during all matches, the brilliance of Weekes could not be undermined. He was the first batsman in history to score five centuries in consecutive innings, his first one came in the last Test against England, and the rest in the first three matches against India. He finished the tour averaging 111.29 without a single not out in 7 innings.

Weekes was quick on his feet and had some of the best wrist movement and positioning in world cricket; his technique was second best only to Worrell himself, which readers might find odd, as this article has yet to really mention Worrell.

The official reason for Worrell not being included in the tour to India was that he’d decided to stay in England due to league commitments in Lancashire; that, however, could not be further from the truth. The real reason was a wage disagreement between him and the board. He asked the board for £250 to tour India; considering that a disrespectful attitude, they denied him payment and, as punishment, excluded him from the tour. This was not the first time a conflict over a better wage had occurred between Worrell and the board, and it would eerily reflect the modern fights between the former WICB and players with T20 league contracts.

Gerry Gomez said that ‘Frank told me later that the shock of being excluded from the touring party was the best thing that could have happened to him,’. Worrell would go on to join the Commonwealth XI to tour India in 1949 and would cement his place as the best batsman of the time, no doubt.

In that tour for the Commonwealth, Worrell scored a staggering 1640 runs, averaging 74.54 by the end of the tour. On what he considered to be his best knock of the tour, at Kanpur on a matting wicket, he was able to score a fine 223 in six hours on an excruciatingly difficult pitch He took his time and patience, timing the ball to perfection. This would not be the last time Worrell went to India under the Commonwealth banner, but this first tour was the perfect demonstration of how important he was to the West Indies side.

Prior to the start of the pivotal England tour in 1950 the WICBC organised four inter-colonial matches, two between Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica in Port of Spain, and two in Barbados against British Guiana.

The standout bowlers were from the Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago squad, but in the Barbados game, Weekes scored 236* and 121, and Walcott with 211*, overwhelming Guyana completely.

The quality of these two aside, the key pair would be the spin duo of the Jamaican Sonny Ramadhin and the Trinidadian Alf Valentine. Ramadhin was a right-arm off-spinner who could bowl a wrong’un going away from the right-hander. There was no apparent change in his action, which baffled both domestic and international opponents. With figures of 5/39 and 3/67 in the first match, and 4/76 in the second one, he was a clear pick. Valentine, on the other hand, didn’t perform as well as Ramadhin. He bowled 39 overs without a single wicket, conceding 111 runs in the process.

That said being a left-arm slow bowler, his biggest advantage was being left-handed itself, with a good arm ball that impressed the selectors. Following the old wisdom that you have to bring a left-hander to England, he was included for the tour. This proved to be an inspired decision.

Thirty-one first class matches were scheduled and four Tests were played. With a newly developed and established top order, of Stollmeyer and Allan Rae opening ably supported by Worrell at three, Weekes at four, and Walcott at five the West Indies were expected to be a difficult proposition to contend with. Ramadhin and Valentine joined a pace attack of Hines, Johnson, and Prior-Jones.

In the third match of the tour against Surrey, against a good bowling attack of the off-spinner Jim Laker and the medium-pacer Alec Bedser, Weekes scored 232.

In the following match against Cambridge University, 1,324 runs were scored in just two innings for a total of seven wickets in three days of cricket. Walcott scored 160 and Weekes an unbeaten 304, totalling the highest first class score for a West Indies side in England at 730/3.

It was the last match before the first Test where we would see the brilliance of the bowling attack. Against Lancashire, Valentine was able to claim 13 wickets for 67 runs, a foreshadowing of what was to come for the first Test.

The first Test will always be remembered for a pitch controversy, where, by orders from the Lancashire Ground Committee, they used less water and the heavy roller for wicket preparation. This led to conditions that favoured spinners quite heavily.

England’s captain, Norman Yardley, won the toss and opted to bat first. However it was to be Valentine’s breakout match, the 20-year-old Valentine ended with first innings figures of 8/104. The magic did not stop; in England’s second innings, he bagged three more wickets, ending with match figures of 11/204.

The second Test at Lord’s, resulted in a famous victory. It was a victory that prompted a timeless piece of Caribbean music, ‘Victory Calypso’.

Michael Manley’s summation of that famous test match outlines the importance of that victory on and off the pitch ‘[…] over there in the bleachers, the people come from separate sovereign territories. Perhaps only when the cricket team is playing do they become West Indians and totally identified with the team and so with each other. Hence, the noise is a celebration of more than a commitment to a side. It reflects as well the longing of the West Indian for a time when the people back home can somehow come together to fashion a society from which they do not feel compelled to depart.’

The winning spree did not stop there. In the third match at Trent Bridge, the West Indies won by 10 wickets, with Worrell setting a record that would only be broken by Sir Vivian Richards at The Oval in 1977.

Worrell set the highest individual score by a West Indian in England, with a total of 261 runs. Manley said the knock was ‘complete mastery. There is no stroke that he did not play. At the same time, his cricketing intelligence was in control of everything that he did.’ Weekes also went on to score a fine century, 129 runs, and was only out by a good caught and bowled by Hollies, answering England’s first innings score of 223 with a resounding 558. A great effort from Johnson in the first innings with three wickets, Ramadhin and Valentine got eight wickets in their second innings, limiting England to 436. The West Indies were set a target of 101 runs, which Stollmeyer and Rae picked off with little or no fuss.

For the last match at The Oval, Valentine took 10 more wickets playing a major role as the West Indies went on to win the Test match by an innings and 56 runs.

Of the 38 matches the West Indies team played on the tour they only lost three. The series was and became more than just cricket; it was a means for the Caribbean diaspora to connect to their home soil, a celebration of Caribbean culture, of black excellence in England, dismantling the English establishment at their own game.

For its contemporaries, it was never simply about cricket, and less than a decade later, various politicians, writers, and thinkers from all parts of the Caribbean came together to form a federation. Although it might not have lasted long, for the people who were there and participated in its formation, its initially significance was clear.

What the West Indies means to Caribbean identity is a convoluted question, but I find it fitting to finish this piece with a Michael Manley quote: ‘The West Indies were unable to put a federation together and at times have difficulty in giving life and meaning to their regional economic institutions. At those times, the typical West Indian becomes tiresomely insular. But when the cricket team is playing, the whole area surges together into a great regional hubbub of excitement and involvement.’

Postscript:

This piece was a love letter to one of the two important topics in my life: Caribbean history and cricket. Not being either Caribbean or West Indian myself in any sense of the word, being born and raised in Brazil, I attempted to bring a different perspective on the rise of West indies cricket, not merely as a sports team, but as a ‘nation’. On the other hand, I did not want to tell Caribbean history from my own lense, but to let the Caribbean writers, politicians, writers, philosophers themselves tell this story.

I utilised many different sources from several different persons: Michael Manley was a huge inspiration, his book ‘History of West Indies Cricket’ is a brilliant piece of art, interpolating both the history of the team and the political events happening on the ground. His other book ‘Jamaica: Struggle in the Periphery’ is an excellent work facing the challenges of ‘Third World’ nations in an era of globalisation and international interdependence.

Other works which I used extensively were the biographies of Clyde Walcott ‘Statesman of West Indies cricket’ by Peter Mason, and Ivo Tennant’s ‘Frank Worrell: A Biography’, for the section on Rex Nettleford this wouldn’t be possible without the article by Marva A. Phillips ‘In Memory of a "Quality Black": Ralston Milton "Rex" Nettleford’, published in the journal ‘Caribbean Studies’.

On a personal note re: what West Indies cricket means to me, its been a part of my life since my early teens. My first interaction with it was watching the 4-Day Championship in 2019, the only team I watched was the Windward Islands for a personal liking of Grenada. Whilst considered a domestic bully, Devon Smith was a personal favourite of mine and his innings of 147 against Guyana in 2020 left an indelible mark.

Devon Smith may have introduced me to cricket but it was watching Jason Holder in 2019 at Kensington Oval that made me truly fall in love with cricket. Watching the match on my phone. Kemar Roach produced a brilliant spell of five wickets for 17 runs, limiting England to a measly 77 runs. But it was Holder’s 202 in the second innings that really got me hooked on the West Indies team. I still use that innings as a yardstick.

I was born in the countryside of Bahia, in a region nicknamed by the Portuguese colonisers as ‘The discovery coast’ for being the first place they invaded in South America. It’s a region devasted by poverty, having numerous cities in the top-10 homicide rates in the country, gang factions and rural working conditions are some of the worst in the nation. However one thing we do have is natural beauty, considered the most beautiful part of the country with lush green forests, the best beaches in the country and a famous tourist spot for Brazilians and South Americans in general.

For many of the people visiting a city like Porto Seguro, which is a couple miles away from where I was born, the poverty-stricken zones are completely hidden from the tourists and the only semblance of that is the number of muggings during the second biggest carnival in Bahia. Tourism brings a lot of revenue to the region, since it’s usually rich white urbanites wanting to escape the ‘traps’ of modern life, but as one can easily guess, corruption runs rampart and it’s the people and the system of public infrastructure and health care that suffers the most. I talk about this as I see a parallel with modern Caribbean society, and many of the struggles I have witnessed growing up.

My favourite batsmen to watch in regional cricket were and will still probably be Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge, I eagerly wait for the West Indies channel or the Windward Islands Facebook page to release interviews with both of them talking about their knocks and what they’re working on. Last year the dearest and most important person in my life passed away, I was devasted at the time but when I turned my computer on, I watched Kavem Hodge at Trent Bridge scoring his maiden test century. Hodge might never get picked for another West Indies game, even if he does he might not score another century, but for me that century during the saddest day of my life made me feel an internal joy which is hard to explain in words, that is what West Indies Cricket means to me.

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This article presents the views of Steph Jaggasar and does not necessarily reflect the views of Machel, Santokie, or the Caribbean Cricket Podcast. If cuss haffi pass, spare us.

On March 3rd, 2025, incoming Test coach Darren Sammy addressed concerns from the CWI fanbase during an online press conference. One key moment stood out when Machel St. Patrick Hewitt of the Caribbean Cricket Podcast asked Sammy:

“What have you picked up on that has been the disconnect, from a player’s perspective… that has prevented them from maybe playing red-ball cricket more extensively?”

Sammy’s response highlighted the communication deficiencies of the previous administration and selection panel. Notably, he said that there are players who were dropped years ago and still do not fully understand the reasons for their exclusion from the Test side.

He went on to say that he has been laying the foundation as the white-ball coach to restore the trust that players have in the CWI institution, and in doing so, is looking forward to introducing (or in some cases, reintroducing) these primarily white-ball players into the red-ball side.

Let's take a closer look at a few players who are likely to be discussed in this context.

1. Brandon King: White-Ball to Red-Ball?

It is no secret that CCP has been a fan of the idea of King’s red-ball debut for some time now. As recently as February this year, CCP released a video on the channel, advocating for King’s inclusion in the discussion of red-ball selection.

King is no stranger to representing the region at the international stage. As the WI premier opener in both white-ball formats over the past 5 years, Brandon King has represented the region 107 times across both T20I and ODI cricket, including in a number of world cups.

There are very few players in the region, especially in the modern era, who have demonstrated that level of loyalty to the badge. A significant side effect of that, is that Brandon King has played in almost every major cricketing continent, meaning his experience in different batting conditions, against different bowlers, in different weather is one of the most prolific and diverse in the region. This feeds into a wider point made by coach Sammy, that he will also take the variation of experience of players into consideration.

Moreover, on a technical level, King has demonstrated promising signs for red-ball cricket. His driving shot, for example, is arguably one of the best and most rewarding in the region and, in theory, he should be able to use a mixture of his white-ball and FC experience to play to the situation of the game rather than being bogged down.

This paired with King’s openness about wanting to play Test cricket for the region and his FC average of 35 for the Jamaica Scorpions, build the argument for his inclusion, at the very least, in the selection discussion.

Watch an in-depth analysis of King’s Test potential here:

2. Pace Attack, the Case for Forde and Shepherd:

In the same conference, Darren Sammy noted that the Test pacers' economy rates are an issue. He states that, when he compared the statistics of the West Indian pace attack to other nation’s, our higher economy prevents us from putting pressure onto the opposing batters.

Questions have arisen about the pace attack. While Jayden Seales has been consistent, the same cannot be said about Shamar Joseph, who, despite having outstanding performances in the Gabba and in Providence, has also struggled against both England and Bangladesh. And unfortunately, the other pacers have not been able to provide much support either.

All of this opens the discussion for Matthew Forde and/or Romario Shephard to be introduced into the Test setup

Matthew Forde, in particular, turned some heads recently when he hit 82 off 91 against Guyana in this year’s West Indies 4-Day Championship. While Forde’s allrounder ability has been known for some time now, the spotlight on his performance this year has been larger, possibly due to the combination of two factors: the desperation fans have towards getting someone into the Test side who can average more than 25, and the fact that he is already an internationally capped player for West Indies in the shorter formats. The culmination of those factors mean that there is eagerness to fill the specific role that Matthew Forde is seemingly putting his hand up for.

Shepherd's case, however, is made through the desire for experimentation. Romario Shephard has been a staple Powerplay and Death bowler for West Indies in the limited-overs formats, although he can suffer from inconsistency. Specifically, it appears as though he struggles with bowling variation in these high-pressure situations. While I am not married to the idea of seeing Romario in white, I do wonder if he would perform more consistently if he is allowed to solely focus on a Test-match line and length.

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Furthermore, although he has not played FC cricket recently, between 2017 and 2020, he played both regionally and as part of an A Series against New Zealand. In that series, Shepherd scored the most runs across both teams, accumulating 232 runs in 4 innings, at an average of 77. In this 3 year period, he was also picking up wickets at an average of 25 a piece.

Perhaps the cherry on top of all of that surrounding Shephard is that he is another player with significant situational experience, having played for West Indies on and off since 2019, in addition to his prolific franchise career, and has explicitly and publicly stated his interest in playing Test cricket.

Both of these players have shown promise with both bat and ball for the region. Their inclusion could buttress either or both the batting and bowling lines if given the chance.

3. Sherfane Rutherford: The Most Improved Player?

Sherfane Rutherford has been the subject of significant praise recently, not only in the West Indies community but in the cricketing world at large. He is perhaps the most improved player, regionally, and has contributed match winning performances in both the T20I format (namely his innings against New Zealand in the T20WC) and in ODIs.

In 2024, the southpaw played 9 ODI matches against Sri Lanka, England, and Bangladesh and scored 425 runs at an average of 106 with 2 DNBs. In those games, he was dismissed 4 times; once vs SL, once vs England, and twice vs Bangladesh. Is this sample size large enough to say he’ll be a world beater in Test cricket? Absolutely not. What it shows is that Rutherford, particularly under Darren Sammy’s coaching in the past year, has made significant strides in learning how to build an innings, a skill that is seemingly dying out in the light of the Franchise pandemic.

Also, while I personally dislike bringing up a player’s age in these conversations, it would be an injustice not to mention Rutherford is only 26 - almost 27 years old. He is probably the most internationally experienced and developed player under the age of 29 in the region. At the same time, he is young enough to be able to, hopefully, iron out his deficiencies in the game and still have a sizable red-ball career ahead of him.

4. The Nicholas Pooran/Evin Lewis/Akeal Hosein Conundrum:

Oh boy!

I admit that the likelihood of any of those three names being called into the senior Test side now is, in my opinion, extremely small. However, fans tend to look back at players from a decade or more ago, notice their lack of caps in particular formats and ask themselves “why was that allowed to happen?” or “what if..?”.

Veerasammy Permaul, for instance, has taken the most First Class wickets in West Indies history, yet has only played nine Test matches. Andre Russell has only played one Test in his career despite having a comparable number of First Class games (17) under his belt to Mikyle Louis a year after his senior debut (18).

RahkeemCornwall dominates the region currently but is unlikely to be called up again to the senior side and the list continues.

Nicholas Pooran is arguably the most gifted batter in the region. Evin Lewis is one of the last glimmers of the “GOAT” generation, having been mentored by Chris Gayle. Akeal Hosein has literally topped the T20I bowling charts while bowling in the most unfriendly period of the game for a spinner - the power play. It would be a regional disservice if, 10 years from now, we look back and ask: ‘What if we had figured out selection just a little bit sooner?’.

I am not suggesting they would dominate the format if called up today, but I am saying that, by not giving them the opportunity (especially sooner), and giving them the time to learn and adjust to the format, we have significantly weakened our potential.

Conclusion: A Step Toward Revitalization

Yes, the issues with West Indies cricket include half a century of administrative mismanagement, players declining interest, funding issues, ICC misdoings, etc. Inclusive in that list is also selection own goals. The road to repairing West Indies cricket needs to be built from all angles, and not just simply to address the larger issues.

While the inclusion of these players may not instantly propel West Indies to a World Test Championship, it marks an essential first step toward rebuilding the team.

Kishore Shallow and the administration have made significant headway in repairing the damage caused by previous regimes. These include limiting the power of administrative positions, giving more voice to overlooked nations like St. Lucia and Dominica, and working with coach Sammy to rebuild trust within the region—both from the players and the public. Having a healthy and transparent selection process, one that takes every player into consideration, is a stanchion to this ideal. And that underlines the imperativeness behind this discussion.

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Thank you to Steph Jaggassar for her debut article for the Caribbean Cricket Podcast substack. You can find her on Substack - here

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Michael Manley, the fourth Prime Minister of Jamaica, was one of the most popular leaders in its history. He led Jamaica from 1972 to 1980 through a post-independence period. One of his key issues was liberation from the economic shackles brought from the colonial era—the lack of self-reliance and exploitation from non-Jamaican-owned business.

There was another process of liberation Manley focused on: decolonisation. It comes in two forms. The first one is anti-colonial sovereignty, to assert native control over the means of power, ascertaining a new political elite. The second one, as important as the first, is a radical form of the former—the dismantling of the previously instituted colonial apparatus in a society and government system. Independence is not enough; for a post-colonial society to be truly liberated, they must free their minds and political systems from the colonial structure that had once impregnated society.

The process of radical decolonisation is about dignity—not to be put down and humiliated, but to come to the self-realisation of self-worth and pride in your own self and as a people. Rex Nettleford, a close friend of Manley himself and the Vice-Chancellor at UWI, coined the term ‘somebody-tisation’—the process for the Black Jamaican to become a somebody in society.

Manley’s father, Norman Manley, was the founder of the PNP (People’s National Party), and he was one of the main figures in acquiring universal suffrage in Jamaica in 1944. Voting, however important it is, is not enough without a population freed in their psyche.

One of Michael Manley’s main goals was to give accessible and free education to the population. In 1974, the JAMAL movement, developed by the PNP, achieved more than 100 thousand adults for a literacy programme. Together with his plan of free education from primary to university, he opened the pathways through which common Jamaicans could obtain jobs beyond the agricultural system but also in the private and government sectors. Nettleford said about this process: ‘There must be the liberation of the Jamaican Black, whether he (sic) be peasant, proletarian or struggling middle class, from the chains of self-contempt, self-doubt and cynicism.’ In an article by The Phenomenal World, Manley’s political practice was well summarised as ‘bringing ordinary Black people to the centre of Jamaican society. […], he attempted to dismantle the legacies of the old colonial order.’

Liberation and self-determination come from beyond the structures of government, but to the very core of society and mentality. For a society to go beyond that, people must recognise themselves as a group—not mere individuals in a society, but banding together as one, recognising their common struggle and traits. As Paulo Freire says, ‘Without a sense of identity, there can be no real struggle.’ The oppressed must realise their position and their ability to change it. This class consciousness brings real, tangible change, and for that to become reality, people must come before and inspire the future ones. Marcus Garvey talks about this unity as: ‘What you do today that is worthwhile inspires others to act at some future time.’

Sovereignty, dignity, self-reliance and liberation were all the main features of Michael Manley’s politics, and one crucial event that might have shaped him was in 1935 when, at just 10 years old, he went to Sabina Park and saw greatness itself: George Headley.

That day, in the fourth and last Test of the series, the Atlas himself went on to score 270 not out—his highest score ever—guaranteeing a win on home soil in front of his home crowd. But, even more importantly, he gave the West Indies their first-ever series win against England.

Headley wasn’t just a sportsperson, an iconic figure or one of the greatest batsmen of all time—for he was all of those things. His nickname truly carried the magnificence of his being. He was the Atlas, not merely for carrying the batting of the team but doing so while it was filled with nepotism and upper white-class privilege ingrained in the WICBC.

Headley was in complete contrast to most of the top order—the definition of class—surpassing, in that tour, his previous best series average from the 1929/30 England tour to the Caribbean. In that series, across eight innings, he averaged 87.88, with the remarkable feat of being the first West Indian to score two centuries in a match. That match, in Georgetown, was also historic as it marked the first time the West Indies won a game against England.

Headley is described by C. L. R. James himself as ‘Nascitur non fit’—‘born, not made’. James exemplifies his attributes in three simple phrases: ‘He saw the ball early. He was quick on his feet. He was quick with his bat.’ As spectacular as he was as a cricketer, perhaps his greatest achievement was off the field—on the bleachers of the stadium and in West Indian society as a whole.

As much as he was cheered for in Jamaica, so too was he in Georgetown and Bridgetown. At a time when the Black population of the Caribbean didn’t have the basic right to vote, there was George Headley—the Atlas—carrying the burden of being the man to show Black excellence to the world, to best England in their own game, to bat with dignity and stamp his position in the world of cricket.

Michael Manley describes it best: ‘But it was to the black masses that Headley had the deepest significance. When he walked to the wicket, brisk, self-assured, and took guard in his quaintly old-fashioned, “two-eyed” stance, he became the focus for the longing of an entire people for proof: proof of their own self-worth, their own capacity.’

Sport cannot be apolitical, for it exists within society, and the people who participate in it are born and shaped by it. The limitations imposed by society, the racism faced by the players—all of this is part of history and the lived experience of those who take part in it. On the West Indies’ first tour of England in 1900, after losing eight matches and drawing four out of 17 against the counties, the newspaper Star published a cartoon described by C. L. R. James as ‘Dr Grace, huge, towering, bat in hand, while around him crouched six black men all shedding tears and saying to the doctor, “We have come to learn, sah”.’

Sports differ from other historical artefacts, for they are often a core and essential part of daily life for the common people in their societies. It is in this arena that all facets of society meet—whether a political radical, an uninterested bipartisan, a common plantation worker, a politician, Black or white, middle- or upper-class—they all come together during this time of the year. As Manley goes on to say, Headley ‘was black excellence personified in a white world and in a white sport’. His influence goes far beyond the boundary of the cricket field. For the Black Caribbean man, it didn’t matter exactly which island you were born on—you could take pride and self-worth in your own capacity as a Black man.

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People with a keen interest in West Indian cricket history pre-World War II might have noticed a name is missing from all previous paragraphs—a player with a 16-year career who played in the first-ever Test match for the West Indies. It could be no one other than Learie Nicholas Constantine, also known as Connie. Beyond being a brilliant all-rounder—well known for his exceptional fielding at cover point, his smooth run-up, and a lot of flair when batting—he was an important figure in English politics. He published his biography together with C. L. R. James in 1933, titled Cricket and I, a deeply important work, using the influence he had acquired from playing to spread the word about racial equality and independence in Trinidad and Tobago. In the same year the book was published, Constantine also became a member of the LCP (League of Coloured Peoples) and helped advance the racial discourse in Britain and the Caribbean, while also supporting West Indian families moving to the north of England during the war.

But for as much as we talk about these great men, we ought to know where the legend originates. For that, we start in 1939—the last West Indies tour before the war and one of the most important in its history. For six years, there would be no cricket, and this period marks the sharp divide between the early history of the West Indian team and its more modern era. The pinnacle of this story—and the main object of study—is the 1950 tour of England, where not only cricket history was made but also a crucial development towards independence and the beginning of the process of decolonisation in the Caribbean.

Quite different from the modern understanding of a cricket tour, those in the early to mid-20th century were long, with most matches holding first-class status. The minimum length of a tour was around six months, usually with 20 or more county matches scheduled, along with other fixtures against university teams such as Cambridge and Oxford. Another important point that might sound strange to the modern cricket fan is the duration of Test matches—there was no standard time allocation for any given match. Unlike what a modern spectator might expect from pre-war cricket, the Tests were intended to be grand spectacles and were played on result-driven wickets. All the Tests in this tour lasted only three days, as it was rare for matches to extend to four or five days, especially in England, where the County Championship brought in most of the revenue and scheduling conflicts were a significant burden. Specifically, 29 matches were played during this tour, with only three Tests, and fewer matches overall due to Britain’s involvement in the war from 3rd September onwards.

In contrast to the attack that would bring West Indies cricket fame 11 years later, for as long as the WICBC had existed, the bowling attack was mainly composed of pace bowlers. The three-man pace attack consisted of Manny Martindale, born in Barbados—a tall and fast bowler known for his short ball; Leslie Hylton, who is now more famous for being the only cricketer in history to have been executed—he was hanged in 1955 for the murder of his wife in Jamaica; and lastly, Learie Constantine, who, at 37 years old during the tour, was no longer bowling as fast but instead delivered sidearm with a focus on turning the ball as soon as it hit the turf.

As for the top order, with the exception of Headley—who averaged 66.80 and scored 28.40% of the runs on the tour—the second-best average among players with more than four innings was Stollmeyer, with 26.60.

The first Test was an unremarkable loss to England, with both batting and bowling failing to challenge the opposition. Even so, Headley became the first man to score two centuries in a match at Lord’s and was also the first man to accomplish this feat twice against England. He built a steady partnership of 118 with Stollmeyer, who scored 59 runs in two hours and 20 minutes. Just before tea, the West Indies were 226/4, but after Copson took the new ball, they were only able to amass 51 more runs, with a first-innings total of 277. On a flat and lifeless surface, the pace trio managed only one wicket, while England’s fourth-wicket partnership between Len Hutton and Dennis Compton put on 248 runs in just two hours. With a score of 404/5, England declared on the third day and quickly dismantled most of the West Indies batting line-up, except for Headley, who went on to score 107. The second-highest score of the innings was Derek Sealy’s 29. England won by eight wickets without much fanfare.

The following match was played at Old Trafford which, in keeping with tradition, was a rain-affected draw, with only 30 minutes of play on the first day. Nothing noteworthy happened.

The last Test of the tour, however, was anything but unremarkable, producing one of the most famous draws and performances by a West Indies side in England, with 1,216 runs scored and 23 wickets falling in just three days of fast-paced cricket.

On the first day, England’s captain, Wally Hammond—having lost the toss twice before—finally won it and, on a flat wicket, chose to bat first. It was a troublesome knock from the Yorkshireman Hutton, who scored 73, playing well on the back foot and driving through the off-side. Hardstaff, together with Stan Nichols, put on a partnership of 89 runs in 69 minutes, which was broken by a brilliant throw from cover, effecting a run-out by Constantine. His mastery did not stop there, as he went on to take a five-wicket haul, dismissing most of the top order and cleaning up the tail. Using clever variations of slower deliveries and making use of the seam movement off the surface, he finished with figures of 17.3-2-75-5—the best of his career.

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England, boasting a total of 352 near the close of play on the first day, soon saw their opponents in trouble. The West Indies captain, Grant, was dismissed early, leaving Headley and Stollmeyer to finish the last session of Saturday on 27/1. After a Sunday rest day, play resumed on Monday, with both batsmen scoring freely and forcing the English captain into countless bowling changes in the first hours of play. Headley was on course for an outstanding century, playing with few defensive strokes, confidently advancing down the wicket, and driving cleanly through the off-side. After Stollmeyer’s dismissal broke a 113-run partnership, Headley was run out attempting an impossible quick single—called by Victor Stollmeyer, Jeffrey’s younger brother. As C. L. R. James noted, ‘If he hadn’t been run out, nothing was more certain than that he would make a century.’ With that, the West Indies were four wickets down for 164 runs.

At this point in the match, a total collapse could have been expected due to previous occurrences, but a man playing only his second Test match, which ended up being his last, Kenneth Weekes—better known as Bam Bam Weekes—scored 137 runs in a little over 130 minutes, with Victor being crucial in a stand of 163 runs in just an hour and a half. Weekes was eventually dismissed by a superb one-handed catch by the English captain at first slip. In that innings, Weekes scored 19 boundaries and played one of the best knocks by a West Indian in England at the time. Unfortunately, being 27 years old at the time, after the Second World War break, he was 35 when the West Indies played their next Test in 1947, by which point he had already retired from cricket altogether.

In spite of Weekes and Headley’s performances, the standout performance was by far Constantine’s. So great, in fact, that Wisden went on to describe his ability as revolutionising ‘all the recognised features of cricket and, surpassing Bradman in his amazing stroke play.’ No greater praise could have been given at the time for a cricketer. He went on to score 78 runs from 103 deliveries—an explosive innings with 12 boundaries. When all was said and done, the West Indies put up a score of 498, and with only one day left in the Test, England was not able to score runs quickly enough, and the match ended in a draw. At 37 years old, Learie Nicholas Constantine played his last Test match and was deservedly named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year. In their article, he was described as ‘A cricketer who will never be forgotten, who took great heed that all nature's gifts should be, as it were, expanded by usage, a deep thinker and an athlete whose every movement was a joy to behold.’

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Thank you to Luis Granada for part one of his article for the Caribbean Cricket Podcast substack.

The Caribbean Cricket Podcast is on Facebook and of course you can also find us on X and Instagram and all other social media platforms.

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As we reach the end of the first three rounds of the West Indies domestic first-class championship, it presents a great opportunity to reflect on how the competition is shaping up.

One crucial caveat for these three rounds is that they were played with the Kookaburra ball instead of the standard Dukes ball used in previous seasons. As such it has a significant weight on the proceedings thus far.

Takeaway 1: Batters are up

The lack of runs at the domestic first-class level has long been a source of frustration for both fans and administrators. Efforts have been made to address this issue by improving pitches, enhancing coaching etc. The introduction of the Kookaburra ball may have been another strategic move to assist batters, as it is generally perceived as more batter-friendly than the Dukes ball.

These are league wide batting averages, comparing this season to the last season.

• The tournament-wide batting average has increased by approximately 3.3 runs, reflecting a ~12% improvement over last season.

• This doesn’t just stop at averages although that is probably the most important metric. Similar increases are observed in other batting metrics:

Batters are now scoring more runs, facing more deliveries, and maintaining a higher strike rate than last season. While pinpointing the exact reasons for this improvement is challenging, the efforts by CWI to enhance pitch quality since last season and the T20 World Cup have likely contributed.

The Kookaburra factor cannot be ignored, in county cricket which also introduced the Kookaburra for a few rounds over the last two seasons, significant improvements in batting averages were observed with batting averages being as much as 8 points higher than in Kookaburra rounds vs the Dukes rounds. The impact should be much more muted in West Indies first-class as it depends on spin compared to the English first class system and as such can better handle the switch to a ball that aids the pacers less without such a massive increase in batting averages.

That said the impact of the Kookaburra cannot be denied as the 3.3 point increase in batting average has to have an origin.

Takeaway 2: Armageddon for pace bowlers

The rise in batting averages has come almost entirely at the expense of pace bowlers, who appear to be the most affected by the switch to the Kookaburra ball. A comparison of spin and pace bowling metrics from the first three rounds of 2024 and 2025 reveals the following (recall that bowling SR is balls per wicket so lower is better):

Fast bowlers appear to be facing most of the pain.

• Fast bowling average has worsened by about ~6 points going from 29.7 to 35.8

• Fast bowling Strike Rate (balls per wicket) has worsened by 12.5 points going up from 49.7 to 62.2

Spinners on the other hand are faring much better

• Spin bowling average has worsened by 2 points from 24.6 to 26.6

• Spin Strike Rate (balls per wicket) has actually slightly improved from 50 to 49

Furthermore, the slight increase in spin bowling averages may be partly due to struggles of the pacers. This season spinners are more likely to face settled batters and much less likely to bowl to newer batters on the crease due to a lack of wicket support from the pacers .

Notably, even West Indies test pacers have not fared much better than domestic only fast bowlers.

Fast bowlers who are part of the West Indies test setup have fared marginally better than domestic bowlers but both are struggling to replicate the impact produced by spinners.

This is not entirely unexpected. The Dukes ball has a more pronounced seam, is known to stay harder for longer, swing and seam for longer and thus is significantly more friendly to fast bowlers than the Kookaburra. So pacers were expected to struggle and are a big part of the reason for the increased batting averages.

All this has had the final effect of increasing the relative importance of spin:

• In 2024, overall average of spin bowlers was about 17.2% better than pace bowlers

• In 2025, this advantage increased to 25.7%.

This makes having quality spinners, having enough spinners and bowling them lots more important in the championship than before, leading to our next key observation.

Takeaway 3: Teams Underutilizing Spin

With there being an even more pronounced advantage for spinners than pacers in the Kookaburra rounds thus far, it would stand to reason that teams would have increased their deployment of spin and decreased their deployment of pace.

That however has not been the case, certainly not to the extent that the numbers have been lopsided for spinners this year.

• Despite spinners being significantly more effective, they have bowled only 1% more deliveries than last season.

This suggests that teams have not appropriately adjusted to the optimal strategies in these Kookaburra rounds. In County Cricket, where the Kookaburra has also been introduced for select rounds, spinners bowled up to 20% more deliveries in response. While such an extreme adjustment may not be necessary in WI First-Class cricket, the fact that spin is only being bowled 1% more suggests that teams have perhaps left wickets on the table. If there are to be more Kookaburra rounds, the optimal strategy might be to load up lineups with even more spinners and bowl as much as 65% of the overs from spinners.

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Looking Ahead

With the Dukes ball set to return for future rounds, several key questions remain:

• Will batting averages decline again?

• Will pacers regain their effectiveness?

• Will teams adjust their strategies more effectively?

The remainder of the season will provide insights into how these factors evolve and what lessons can be learned for future tournaments.

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Thank you to Shawn for his debut article for the Caribbean Cricket Podcast substack.

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