THE West Indies does not lack talent in cricket but a lot more is needed for the team to rise from the doldrums and become a respected force once more.
These sentiments were expressed by head coach Phil Simmons and white-ball captain Kieron Pollard in the aftermath of losing another series, this time in New Zealand, where the West Indies lost the T20 series and Test series by 2-0 margins. Since then, debate has swirled around the failings of the West Indies and what, if anything, can be done to bring about a reversal of fortunes. Simmons and Pollard are of the view that a lot needs to be done administratively and by the players, if things are to change for the better. “We are never, in the Caribbean, wanting for talent,” Simmons said in a video from CWI posted on YouTube on Wednesday.
“But now is the time for us to realise that all the talent we have hasn’t taken us anywhere and that there are some things that have to go with the talent. “There’s teaching, there’s understanding, there’s learning how to play different games in all different formats.

“There is a lot to be done still. We have to put together everything else in the Caribbean that goes with the talent to make it a successful unit again.”
Pollard, one of the best T20 players in the world and who has played within some of the best T20 leagues across the globe, while agreeing with the head coach, opined that until structures can be put in place for the West Indies to make full use of the talent, the current crop of players need to shoulder a greater share of responsibility. This, he said, would likely inspire the administrators to do more. “We talk about fixing cricket and wanting to take it forward but I think as individuals, the hard work needs to be put in and I just believe that sometimes you look at it, it needs to start at the administration level,” Pollard said. “In this case, I think we can be the driving force on the field; with the group of guys we have at present, we can continue to show that we have the drive and the determination and desire to go forward and push forward, and also put ourselves in uncomfortable positions in order for this vehicle to go forward. Then it would transcend onto the administration and they will realise that we need to pull our socks up.

“When you look at it, we are not wanting for talent. Talent, pound for pound, we are always there and sometimes a lot better than we have seen around the world; but what they have around the world is structure. What they have is people investing in the cricket, investing in themselves.” Pollard believes the West Indies have remained in the doldrums for a long time because of a willingness to accept mediocrity, suggesting that, unfortunately, it is part of Caribbean culture. He said with a renewed effort to move forward, hopefully the effort will attract the type of investment needed in regional cricket. “There is still a long way to go in terms of playing in proper facilities. Pitches in the Caribbean, in all honesty, are not at a great standard. Things that we call world-class, when you go away you see world-class and those are the things we need to see as individuals and from an administration point of view.”