DWAYNE Bravo has launched an emotional attack on the West Indies Cricket Board, saying “too much politics is killing our cricket”.Bravo was stripped of the side’s one-day international captaincy a year ago then left out of the West Indies’ World Cup squad, despite being one of the best players in the region.
The snubbing came after the West Indies left India mid-tour due to contract issues.
“The two guys that paid mostly for what took place in India … were the two players who encouraged the guys to actually play,” the Melbourne Renegades all-rounder said yesterday.
It hurts Bravo that he hasn’t played an ODI since.
But far more painful was watching his team stumble their way through the World Cup, exiting in the quarter-finals after losing to Ireland in the pool stage.
“The guys were never together. It didn’t look like a team and that in itself hurts more,” the all-rounder, who is playing for Melbourne Renegades in BBL|05, said.
The team’s latest miserable episode is the three-Test series unfolding in Australia at the moment.
Bravo, who has scored two Test centuries in Australia, retired from the longest form of the game in January.
Cynics assume it’s because of Twenty20 riches on offer around the world.
The 32-year-old explained he instead grew increasingly frustrated by a lack of communication with selectors since his last Test in 2010.
“I feel hurt … I get frustrated,” he said.
Bravo lamented the sorry state of affairs that led to Australia winning the opening Test in Hobart by an innings and 212 runs.
“We’ve got the players to be up there with the best in the world but there are a lot of things going on,” Bravo said.
“Too much politics is killing our cricket.
“Those in charge have to look into themselves.
“We don’t have proper grounds, proper nets or a proper academy. All these things are a part of our downfall.
“The relationship between players, board members and management staff – it needs to get stronger and tighter.
“They need to have a lot more honesty. There are a lot of dishonest people in charge at the moment.”
Bravo called on administrators to stop romancing about the past and start looking towards the future.
“(Otherwise) the rest of the world will go on and we will always be backward,” he said.
Bravo’s half-brother Darren scored a century in Hobart, one of few positives to come out of the game for the tourists.
“He’s definitely one of our better players,” Dwayne Bravo said.
“If you score runs and perform down there you can play anywhere in the world.”
Dwayne noted he’d love to play another Test alongside Darren but that it was highly unlikely.
“Things are not good at the moment,” he said.