Barbados Cricket Association President, Joel Garner, has admitted that poor umpiring is one issue hampering West Indies cricket as it seeks to move out of prolonged slump.
Garner said that the opening round of the Regional Four-Day tournament had strengthened his opinion that something mustbe done to lift the standards of regional umpiring.
“The time is right where we should get the people who cannot give good decisions out of the cricket. We’ve been talking about it at West ooIndies Cricket Board level now for the last three to four years,” the former Test fast bowler said.
“There are a lot of ageing umpires who do not see very well and do not give proper decisions. I think we’re going to come to that position where we’re going to have to take a stand in terms of who is sent out to do a job in the middle because it plays on the confidence of the players. They are not very comfortable when they see some umpires and that lends to bad cricket as well.”
Garner said that some “funny decisions” went against Barbados in the loss to Jamaica last weekend – the umpires were 53-year-old Jamaican, Vivian Johnson, and 42-year-old Guyanese, Nigel Duguid – but stressed he didn’t want to offer any excuses for the team’s limp showing.
“I am not going to make an excuse for the performance because it is bad cricket. However you look at it, nobody applied themselves,” he said.
Garner also addressed the issue of preparatory trial matches being played on sub-standard pitches and outfields, admitting that aspiring Barbados players deserved better conditions.
But he added that lack of proper facilities could not be used as another excuse.
“We have some of the best nets here [at Kensington] and if you come out here in the morning, you will see the Barbados team preparing from 9 till 2 every day.” (CC)
