Clive Lloyd on the roadmap ahead of West Indies Cricket saying ‘We have to examine all aspects of West Indies cricket’.
After the Test team’s 27 all out loss to Australia at Sabina Park, Clive Lloyd was asked to participate in an emergency summit on the sport and stated that “all aspects” of West Indian cricket needed to be looked at.
With Jayden Seales’ final wicket falling after a misfield had allowed them to edge past the number, West Indies moved within striking reach of matching the lowest-ever Test score of 26, set by New Zealand in 1955.
Dr. Kishore Shallow, the president of Cricket West Indies, invited Lloyd, Viv Richards, and Brian Lara. Lloyd said he was “always available to help” and emphasised the need to find answers quickly, especially with regard to the batting in Test matches.
“We have to examine all aspects of West Indies cricket from grassroots to the international level,” Lloyd said in a statement.
“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.”
With the exception of Anderson Phillip, Brandon King, who made his Test debut in Barbados, was the only hitter from the West Indies to average more than 20 runs against Australia. His 75 in Grenada was also the highest score from either team.
Head coach Daren Sammy frequently addressed the team’s batting difficulties during the series, suggesting that they were trying to score more runs if they had trouble batting. Lloyd, however, believed that they needed to figure out how to increase innings and that pitches in the Caribbean needed to be fixed, a point that Sammy had also brought up.
“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.
“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.