SPORTS
Newsday reporter
PLAYERS ARE the end product of a cricket organisation, be it club or country, and their performances on the field of play, whether good, indifferent or bad, represent very much the strength, mediocrity or weakness of that organisation. Therefore, all the judgment is on the players, as they are visible in that deal.
However, there are many aspects to such an organization. It is the administration that creates the rules according to which the governance of the system will prevail. Therefore, we at Cricket West Indies (CWI), guide West Indies cricketers so that their cricketers can be serious competitors on the world stage.
To do this, the current administration must have some idea of what is required, and if they themselves lack such knowledge, they ensure that they surround themselves with those who have that understanding. Or to put it another way, to attract those with at least a modicum of cricket intelligence.
I am not happy to write that in light of WI’s poor and inconsistent performance in the last six months, CWI should review their governance standards in order to decide whether their policies are essential towards sustainable improvement and development for best cricket.
This group of people running cricket in West Indies should be able to recognize the fact that our cricketers are not benefiting in any territorial program to improve them.
Sir Andy Roberts says the hierarchy are blaming the coaches and this is just an excuse for their failure. Although I agree with him to some extent, coaches cannot escape criticism. He says, “Players who take responsibility for developing their game to the point that the coach has to do only make sure they get through their training.”
A coach has more of a role than the simple job of making sure the players get through their training. The coach must ensure that the player is motivated and this is done by developing his enthusiasm, plus, using the right attitude, making the practice sessions interesting with a goal in mind.
The coach must build the player’s mindset to ensure he is practicing properly and simulating match conditions. He should never believe that it is just a workout. There is a purpose behind practice, the sooner he realizes this, the better the cricketer will emerge.
Batsmen are not showing the required skills at the highest level due to lack of concentration. Those whose coaches don’t push them to hit the nets for long hours, building focus and mental skills, suffer on match day. Consequently, when that batsman fails, don’t say it’s his fault and the coach is only responsible for coaching. It is negligent on the part of the coach not to ensure that his charges are at the top of their game because they are not pushed to do the right thing when they practice.
Other problems are the lack of cricket in the region. Although there was an unprecedented worldwide pandemic in the last two years, there were still plenty of cricket games given the circumstances. And we have to get right back to it. Improvement in cricket comes the more you play cricket.
What is CWI Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams planning for the development of young cricketers in the region? There is a wall of silence from his desk regarding future plans. It is occasionally heard from Adams even though it doesn’t seem to make sense.
The development of cricket in the region must be done on every island with programs established in schools, secondary and primary, filled with qualified coaches, because cricketers must be captured from a young age by the beauty and fun of the game by playing and enjoyed it. .
The only way to do this is by being introduced to the joy of sport at a young age. They then grow into it, learning the art through the various skills they develop. The younger they learn, the faster they develop, the better they become.
Of course, starting with basic coordination gifts, plus the necessary flexibility required for the sport, are an advantage.
Therefore, it is a mistake to blame only the players or coaches, although they must answer for their performances. However, the administration has most of the blame to take, as they make the most important hiring and firing decisions of coaches and selectors, to form a smooth successful organization whose finished product is the players.
