Laurie Foster | Test cricket and the scarcity of regional talent

Recently, one of the chief hitmen in the conquering arsenal of West Indies fast bowlers in the 1970s, Andy Roberts, voiced his concerns about the failed state of the region's cricket. Specifically mentioned by the Antiguan was the coaching crisis which has seen incumbent Australian Stuart Law quit the post, after a mere two years.

It was a period which saw less -than-meaningful improvement in the Test arena, where the team won two of six series, and those were against fellow lowly ranked Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Eight limited-overs series were played and the West Indies lost them all. Law's announced registration makes four head coaches to have occupied the seat in nine years. To use this columnist's words, Roberts claimed that this rate of attrition was due to frustration, as the coaches were being given poor cricketers with whom to work. He went on to say that no longer in evidence was this "abundance of talent". The demon pacer should not have ended it there. There are reasons for the state of affairs which he highlights. One is sure that he is aware, and, as such, his respected voice should have also touched on them.

Foster's Fairplay will agree that the talent is sparse, when compared to the Robertses, Holdings, Garners and those famous, beautiful stroke players of the past. Those giants are not replicated in the game of today. That was a different era, with far less distractions as presently exist. Cricket West Indies (CWI) should recognise this and intensify its attempts to address it. Somehow, the impression is given that it knows the real problem but it fears player disapproval.

A MAJOR DISTRACTION

Against the background that the more popular one-day versions of the game are, in some quarters, seen as a major distraction, they are also a necessary aspect of the game. They generate funds which keep the wheels turning in other areas and should not be discounted. That accepted, there should be immediate plans to restructure the schedules. Right now, they are the chief factors turning away our most talented from Test cricket. As soon as a player makes a few quick runs or topple some of the 'big bats' at the national or domestic level, he is ready for bright-coloured clothing and all that lies therein. This puts on hold the rigid and disciplined preparation process for what many continue to view as the real cricket.

As a result of the fortunes to be earned from the short versions, it is not desirable to do away with them. However, a way needs to be found to separate one type from the other, so the many who still enjoy and watch the five-day version can have their just desires.

This will mean a liaison with other countries in the Test-playing matrix, as one is confident that the struggle to maintain the relevance of Test cricket is not unique to the West Indies. A lobby should be taken to the world governing body, the International Cricket Council, to ask them to oversee the restructuring of schedules to accommodate all versions. It is not conceivable that this would be beyond them. Neither should it be seen as a move that goes against the grain of what is happening now. At this time, it may seem that only the West Indies is hurting, but maybe it is just the filip that other suffering Test-playing countries need to improve their performances in the seemingly dying version of cricket.

So, one should not ignore or even sideline the arguments coming from Roberts, but let's attack the issue in a fulsome way. The players in the region as well as the supporters need the three versions. They have excelled in all areas although their performances in white clothing appear to have been in the distant past.

Let the CWI pull out all the stops to satisfy them, as their best might be yet to come.

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