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West Indies getting bowled out for a historic low of 27 at Sabina Park led to alarm bells being sounded. Cricket West Indies (CWI) released a statement after the debacle in pink-ball Test against Australia and legends were asked to help revive the dying format in the Caribbean. West Indies' two-time ODI World Cup-winning captain Clive Lloyd was among the three (Viv Richards and Brian Lara) were asked for help by CWI president Dr Kishore Shallow. Lloyd has responded to the Test emergency. He said he is up for discussions and always available to help West Indies cricket.
"We have to examine all aspects of West Indies cricket from grassroots to the international level," Lloyd said in a statement as per ESPNcricinfo. "Everything must be looked at closely and carefully. West Indies cricket is an institution. It has given so much to the people of this region and we must do all we can to revive it.
"I'm always available to help in any way. How we can marry the ideas we have with what is necessary and have healthy discussion on the way we move forward, that's what I'm thinking. It has been nearly 100 years since we have been playing top-class [Test] cricket and we have to get it right."
West Indies batters' struggle in Frank-Worrell Trophy
West Indies had only five batters scoring over 100 in the three-Test series. Fast bowler Shamar Joseph who claimed 22 wickets in the series, outscored majority of West Indies batters. Only Brandon King, who made his Test debut in the series, averaged over 20.
Lloyd disagrees with Sammy's approach, wants old school Test batting
While head coach Daren Sammy said that they were focusing to score quickly if the struggle to bat for longer periods of time, Lloyd wants a more traditional approach in the longest format. He wants batters like Larry Gomes in the current side who bat long and wear out the opposition. However, he understands that the approach needs to be embedded into the format at grassroot levels.
"We need a couple of Larry Gomes, more batsmen like him," Lloyd said. "We need batsmen who put a heavy price on their wickets and when they get in look to stay in. There is nothing wrong with digging in and 'batting ugly'. We have to find ways of fighting, occupying the crease, and staying in for long periods to wear down the bowlers. We have not been doing that.
"Obviously, the mental side of our game needs to improve. We have to go back to the basics. We have to look at schools' cricket, club cricket, first-class cricket - are we playing enough; we also have to look at the pitches - how are we preparing them and how they are playing."
West Indies' next Test challenges
West Indies' next Test series is a more than two months away. They play a two-Test series on Indian soil. Then, they will tour New Zealand for a three-T20I series. West Indies need to register wins to stay alive in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27.
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