The world’s leading cricket nations would be choosing a “selfish” path if they pursued a two-tier system for Test playing nations, according to West Indies team manager and former fast bowler Joel Garner.
Following their fearful defeat in the first Test at Brisbane, the Caribbean tourists have faced heavy criticism from all corners amid calls for the introduction of new structures to revitalise Tests.
One idea is for the best-performed countries to separate into a first division, leaving lesser nations, the West Indies among them, to fight amongst themselves.
However Garner pointed out that in years gone by it had been the West Indies, with their own drawing power, that had helped the likes of Australia and England in times of weakness.
“When other teams weren’t doing so well, and we were playing exciting cricket, we were relied upon so they could boost revenues,” Garner told website Cricinfo.
“People forget how much money West Indies cricket has generated for the world when we were the team of choice for host countries.
“The West Indies team was invited to Australia in 1984 to bring people through the gates and there was no suggestion from our end that we wouldn’t come.
“I think some people need to look at the bigger picture.”
On the subject of diving the Test-playing nations into haves and have-nots, Garner was extremely sceptical.
“It’s a selfish way to live your life,” he said.
“You’re basically saying, ‘we’re OK so to hell with you’.
“A four-team competition makes no sense.
“If we want eight competitive teams rather than just four, administrators need to look at new ways of sharing their revenue.
“West Indies needs rebranding, and it would be to the benefit of everybody if that happened.
“We are 16 islands that span 1,500 miles from Jamaica to Guyana with six million people where resources are scarce.
“We can get away with it up through the juniors, but if a player really wants to better himself, it is difficult when there are only six or eight first-class games a year.
“What we need is a professional league.
“We are not looking for handouts, just ways of looking at the way cricket’s revenue is shared to improve the game in the Caribbean.”
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