– core group of 15-20 players can take Windies forward
St John’s, Antigua – The former legendary captain of the all-conquering West Indies team, Clive Lloyd says that he is convinced that West Indies cricket is on the upward curve.
"I have seen the signs, I am seeing the ‘green shoots’ in players like Kirk Edwards and Andre Russell who have come on to the scene and done well and shown that they are quality players who can compete against any team around the world," Lloyd observed.
He said that he can see a core of about 15 to 20 young players who he believes has the quality to take West Indies cricket forward.
"I can safely say that we have about 15 to 20 players than we can call on who can compete with the best in the world, what we need is for all hands to be on deck and for the senior players to be there to mentor and guide them in a positive way," Lloyd asserted.
"Once these young guys get that mentoring and guidance from committed senior players in addition to the wonderful work being put in by the coaching staff
I’m convinced that our cricket will step up to a level where we are competitive against any side in the world," said Lloyd, a WICB Director.
In addition to Edwards and Russell, Lloyd identified several young players who have recently come on the scene as players he has been particularly impressed with.
"The boys in the background are a solid group as well, Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel who are at the Sagicor HPC are two in particular that have bright futures," Lloyd noted.
"I’m impressed with Krishmar Santokie and Garey Mathurin seems an intelligent bowler and left arm spinners are an integral part of the game now," said Lloyd who was known for having assembled the most fearsome pace attack in cricket’s history.
"Devendra Bishoo is a very good bowler who is improving with every game and Darren Bravo has to continue converting scores to hundreds, so all in all we have the core, we have bowling in pace and spin and batting," Lloyd noted.
It is now just a matter of all these guys continuing to gel together; our one day squad seems to be quite good, we have good batting and adequate bowling," a passionate Lloyd said.
"And once you start winning one day games it’s only a matter of time that you’ll be winning Test matches consistently," said Lloyd who captained the West Indies in the height of the glory years from 1974 to 1985.
"The coaching staff and the coaches at the Sagicor HPC and the other set ups have to be commended and congratulated for the work they are doing in preparing the players," Lloyd said.
"Even though the WICB is not well endowed in the monetary sense like some of the other boards around the world, the Board has put the framework in place for our cricket to be strong again," Lloyd highlighted.
"It is extremely expensive to run our cricket, we’re separated by water so travel is more expensive, we’re a tourist destination so hotels are more expensive and we have to ensure that player salaries are competitive so now I would love to see companies step up to the plate and sponsor our regional competitions and get involved in West Indies Cricket which is on the rise," Lloyd said.
"We look like we’re forming a formidable team in the limited overs versions and the way forward looks rosey to me," Lloyd said.