AS THE DIN of criticism relative to the state of West Indies cricket intensifies, one is if left to wonder if we cannot be focussed on providing potential solutions. Why criticise players at the onset of their careers by comparing them to former cricketers at the height of theirs?
Recently, coaches have been complaining that players come to them at the highest level with too many technical faults. How is this possible and why is it still allowed to be so? We have more formal cricket being played and more coaches than at any other previous era.
Many coaches at the junior levels teach techniques based on how they did it or how their heroes did it. We also hear the oft repeated comment that you should not change a player’s style. If it works for him, let it continue and do not confuse him with change.
Each of these positions is wrong and does not adequately prepare the player for the challenges to be met at the higher level. “If it works don’t break it” is only appropriate in situations where the conditions or required skills and abilities do not or have not changed.
We must have a virtual marriage between required technical efficiency and personal comfort zones for a successful product. Competence in intellectual analysis as well as the mental strength of the individual player must also be factored into the equation.
There must be a structure that allows the best of our coaches to get out of their perched positions and give more time at the junior developmental levels. They need to interact with junior programmes and to provide regular training and retraining sessions for junior coaches.
In recent times, the West Indies Cricket Board has provided retainer contracts for its best players. These cricketers should be obligated and scheduled to have regular visits to school and junior teams as well as to provide practical demonstrations and help recruit promising players!
The onset of franchise cricket has brought immense potential financial benefits to individual players. This has created a challenge to traditional cricket, especially here in the West Indies. It has figuratively found us with our pants down resulting in the fracturing of many relationships.
On the one hand, the Board expects returns on its investments and have the players available to play in regional competitions and represent the regional team. On the other hand, the career of a professional cricketer is short. It is reasonable to expect them to seek to benefit from all available financial rewards.
I suggest that the Board has a right to expect players to be available for regional competitions. It also has a right to expect appropriate compensation when players are kept away from team selection or regional participation. This should be consistent with the investment that brought the player to the point of international recognition.
I also believe that the players have a right to insist on a good and fair basic fee. They also have a responsibility to themselves, their families and their relatively short careers to maximize their earning potential. Sponsorship is good, so are image fees, but it cannot end there.
We need to get away from the myopic criticisms of either entity. Instead, we must help guide the Board in fashioning sensitive regulations for contemporary challenges. We also need to give understanding advice to the players to avoid charges of greed and disrespect.
West Indies cricket is that important and must be saved from the constant bickering and conflicts. Compromise does not have to be a dirty word but a principled approach to achieving what is best for all concerned, especially the people’s game, West Indies cricket.
Jeff Broomes is an experienced educator, principal and community organiser who also served as vice-president of the BCA and director of the WICB. Email: unclejeff2@hotmail.com