Sunil Gavaskar Voices Concerns Over West Indies Cricket Team’s Decline
New Delhi, 18th July 2023: Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar recently shared his thoughts on the decline of the West Indies cricket team in recent times. Over the past few years, the team has struggled to meet expectations in various formats, and their failure to qualify for the ODI World Cup has raised concerns about their performance.
During a trip down memory lane, Gavaskar fondly remembered his playing days in the Caribbean and praised former West Indies greats such as Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Andy Roberts, and others. He acknowledged the remarkable legacy left behind by these wonderful cricketers. However, he also pointed out that the laid-back temperament, while fantastic in some aspects, might not always lead to favourable results on the field. Gavaskar recalled the golden era of West Indies Test cricket, where every match they played was an opportunity to earn extra income.
Gavaskar expressed concerns about the current temperament of West Indies players and questioned their approach to the game, suggesting that the presence of central contracts might be a contributing factor. He noted that players from various countries are guaranteed substantial sums through these contracts even before they perform on the field. This, according to him, might diminish their drive to excel and impact their overall commitment to the game.
To address this issue, the legendary cricketer proposed an alternative approach for Cricket West Indies. He advised against offering central contracts and instead suggested increasing Test match fees, with players being paid based on their performance. Gavaskar believes that such a change could lead to a shift in attitude among the players and encourage them to put in their best efforts.
Recently, West Indies suffered a defeat against India in the first Test match, a match that ended within three days. The home team seemed unprepared and lacked resilience both with the bat and ball. India dominated the contest, marking a strong start to the new World Test Championship cycle. The second and final Test of the series is scheduled to begin in Trinidad on Thursday.
