Among the major long-term phenomena witnessed by the world of cricket is the steady decline of the West Indian cricket team. The world’s best team from the 70s to the early 90s, the team suffered a steady decline which, from peak to trough, seemed rather steep.
A few false dawns might have dotted the timeline, like the Champions Trophy triumph in 2004, but these were so feeble that it was clear to all pundits, whether respectable or of the armchair variety, that a sustainable recovery had not been sighted.
That was until the 2012 T20 World Cup. But more on that later.
Let us first address the question of what ailed West Indian cricket in the first place. How could a team so dominant become the whipping boys of world cricket? The answer lies, unsurprisingly, in the economics of West Indian cricket.
If one would twirl one’s table-top globe, one would find the West Indies, a group of islands, located not too far away from the United States of America. This proximity slowly but surely lured the best West Indian athletes towards the NBA, USA’s ultra-lucrative basketball league.
In comparison, cricket did not pay well. Not nearly as much. And that was that.
It is easy to spot the difference between the height of the West Indian fast bowlers of yore, who were naturally gifted in generating pace, and the newer crop, who are not in the same league.
It was not solely a question of height. The better athletes – the quicker, faster, more alert ones – were intent on plying their trade in the NBA and to the detriment of West Indian cricket.
Apart from the NBA, track and field athletics provided another option away from cricket and for the same economic reasons. Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake are global stars whose income from endorsements would be enviable.
It is interesting to note their first love was cricket and both have recently announced their intention of playing (part-time) in one of the T20 leagues going around in the cricketing circles today. The reason why they chose track and field over cricket is well understood.
Now, let’s come to the factors behind the revival of West Indian cricket. The reason, once again, is economic in nature. The proliferation of the T20 leagues in various cricketing nations has meaningfully changed the compensation levels, both actual and potential, for West Indian cricketers. And the impact is finally being felt.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the world’s most lucrative cricket league and West Indian cricketers are welcome here. Chris Gayle is the one example that perhaps explains it all. The man fell out with the West Indian cricket authorities over pay issues and resurfaced in the IPL.
Gayle invested everything he had into the IPL and displayed the best cricket he’s ever played. It was nothing but a cold, hard example of how money can motivate. Gayle is barely interested in playing Test cricket, and he has made that clear publically, but he will continue to give his best while playing T20 for the West Indies for reasons that are very practical.
Firstly, if he breaks all ties with the West Indian cricket authorities permanently, he runs the risk of not receiving the mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) from the national cricket board to be eligible for playing in the IPL.
Secondly, in order the remain firmly in the mindspace of the selectors of IPL teams, he has to showcase his best form in international T20. The better the opinion such selectors have of Gayle, the more stratospheric his pay will be during the next IPL auction.
What’s more, stellar performances in international T20 will attract the attention of Indian brand managers, who have found international cricketers increasingly acceptable as endorsers.
An interesting snippet coming out the 2012 T20 World Cup was that the West Indies cricket team was the second favourite team of the sub-continental fans after, of course, their respective national teams. Something the brand managers would have included in their notes.
So, let’s be clear and honest, it’s all about T20 cricket at the moment. I have discussed, in an earlier article, how the IPL has been deleterious for Indian Test cricket. But, clearly for the West Indies, T20 is the epicentre of their revival as it is T20 that throws up economic incentives for West Indian athletes who have a choice to make.
The result is that West Indies now has an enviable line-up in the shortest format of the same. Apart from Chris Gayle, they also have other IPL stars like Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels and others, such that it is the proverbial case of an embarrassment of riches.
Not surprisingly, West Indies have gone on to lift the 2012 T20 World Cup and importantly, it does not look like a flash in the pan.
One would expect West Indies to remain a force to reckon with in T20 cricket as they will often end up bludgeoning their opposition into submission. They may not win all T20 tournaments, as the nature of format is such that outcomes are relatively fickle, but West Indies will retain their new-found aura of a dominant T20 outfit.
To what extent it all affects West Indian Test cricket remains to be seen, but the current scenario definitely opens up the possibility of a revival in Test cricket as well, for various reasons.
Firstly, sport, like many walks of life, has a lot to do with confidence, believing in one’s abilities. If West Indies do well in T20, they could possibly develop the confidence they need for other forms of the game.
Secondly, all forms of the game are inter-related to some extent or the other. Hence, the West Indian cricketers, notwithstanding Chris Gayle, would feel the importance of doing well in Test cricket as well.
A strong West Indian cricket team is good news for world cricket in more ways than one.
For starters, it makes world cricket more competitive and secondly, it also makes it more spectator-friendly as the West Indian joie-de-vivre, Gangnam-style dance and all, adds a new dimension for worldwide audiences.
Cricket fans, for their part, should hope their revival extends to Test cricket as well.
BrainsTrust
Guest
The new dawn in West Indian cricket was actually the involvement of billionaire con man Stanford. The West Indians remember had that super lucrative T20 series with England . They also had money to pay run ther home T20 series. AT that point in time Gayle was begging to play for the West Indies after they had some sort of dispute because would lose money. With Stanford gone however West Indian cricket is now back to being broke so the pay went down for their test team. The problem with West Indian cricket really was caused by English County Cricket limiting foreign players in the 80's. Then English county cricket teams just went for those of English heritage which favoured SOuth Africans and AUstralians. Without the prospect of money to be made in a sport cricket was considered unfashionable. With T20 there is hope for cricket in the West INdies because they know they can make money out of playing.
Kristin Carville
Roar Rookie
I think it is far too early to make a comment on he impact this has on West Indies cricket. Les not forget that only 3 seasons ago they cam here and were competitive for 2 of te 3 test matches, but then fll in a heap again. They have shown encouraging signs, but the test for them now is to make sure they can keep the momentum going and kep the consistency in their game. And the problems in WI cricket have ess to do with the NBA than is thought. Whilst it is a presence, interviews with WI legend say it is not as big an issue as other countries repor. The major cause of the issues has been the poor management of the game by the board who have neglected grass roos development, and fumble relations with players, highlighted by 2 player strikes and the Gayle situation.
Disco
Roar Guru
Perhaps so.
Disco
Roar Guru
I didn't intend to demean the cricket you've played - my comment was directed at the T20 circus in which West Indies just became world champions. My view is that when such slogfests reach the domestic and international stage and eat away at established forms of the game, they become 'anti-cricket'. Those other forms of the game you mention don't harm first-class and Test cricket whereas I think elite-level T20 does. Personally, I'd much rather watch a grade/district match than a international or domestic T20.
Don Corleone
Guest
I think Shivaji makes some very interesting points. I can see the importance of T20 as a part of the West Indies revival. It was sad to see the decline of Windies cricket in the late 1990s - 2000s. The influence of US TV into the region and the flight of West Indian sportsmen to NBL and NFL was predicted back then and came true to a certain extent. I'm a rare individual who loves tests and T20, lesser so ODIs now. I'm glad if T20 has attracted Caribbean sportsmen to cricket, even if it's for the riches. Perhaps I'm wrong, but playing for a region would have slightly less pride and honour than playing for your country...imagine playing for Australiasia? I'd prefer to see them thrive at T20 than watch West Indies cricket die completely. I'm still hoping for a happy medium can be reached between the formats so that cricket can be enjoyed and celebrated around the globe.
Russ
Guest
Shivaji, might I suggest you missed the point of my comment? And possibly Don's as well.
Shivaji Thapliyal
Roar Rookie
On the one hand, I am happy to see such a deep relationship with test cricket but I think that, as a cricket fan, I would be more inclusive and acknowledge the skills of the T20 cricketers as well. See my comment to Pope Paul VII above. Basically, would you say that the 100m sprint champion is a poor athlete because he is not the marathon champion?
Shivaji Thapliyal
Roar Rookie
I love test cricket myself but to rubbish T20 in this manner is grossly unfair. I think limited overs cricket is a form of cricket that threw up new challenges before cricketers. First, it was ODI cricket and now, T20 has made those challenges even tougher. In test cricket, a batsman has far more leeway to not be aggressive with good deliveries. Now, I am not saying there is no skill involved here. It is a profound skill indeed to display patience and not attack good deliveries and wait for the not-so-good ones to score runs off. Furthermore, it is an even more profound skill to be able to survive the good deliveries in test cricket, in which pitches are more supportive of bowlers. So, there is no taking way of the greatness of those who perform at the test level. However, my initial comment about the freedom of being less aggressive with good deliveries still holds. Just like there are several batsman who do well at limited overs cricket but fail at the test level, the opposite is also true. Of course, there are those who excel at both.
Shivaji Thapliyal
Roar Rookie
My message is basically about the West Indies as a T20 team. Furthermore, I disagree that test cricket is the only yardstick to judge cricketing skills.
Shivaji Thapliyal
Roar Rookie
I say again, my message is not focused on test cricket. What I am saying is that the West Indies will be a strong T20 team from this point on. It may get a bit better in test cricket or it may not but my message is basically about the West Indies as a T20 team.
Russ
Guest
Excellent idea. And we should call test cricket Real Cricket to reflect its true status.
Don Corleone
Guest
So, following on the lines of argument in some of the comments, T20 and Cricket should be mutually exclusive entities then? Should there be 2 separate governing bodies for these sports? Should cricketers and T20ers be made to choose which sport they should pursue a career in? i.e. Union & League. Are sportsmen who have played for their country in cricket and T20 considered to be duel internationals? I'd be interested to know.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Winning a T20 competition might mean that the West Indies could rise as a cricket nation? I really don't see the connection. At international level, Test cricket is the only form on which a nation can possibly be judged, and T20 is so far removed from Test cricket that it is in essence a different sport with the same equipment and similar rules. T20 is an indicator of nothing except T20.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Don , I like your cricket and water analogy. Read an excellent dissertation on water in "The second book of ignorance" by the people who do QI, where they determined that water was so incredibly versatile that it shouldn't exist. Bit like cricket. Disco, like you I believe Test Cricket is the ultimate long cool glass of water while 20/20 is vapour.
Don Corleone
Guest
If T20 isn't cricket...what is it? Like many who have played the game, I've done so in a variety of forms, from indoor cricket to 20-over-a-side to 35-over-a-side to 2 innings spread over 2 Saturday afternoons. I would resent any implication that because I've never played 4-5 day, 2 innings cricket that I've never played the game. While it is played with bat, ball, stumps and according to the Laws of Cricket...it's cricket. It's like saying ice and steam are so different to your idea of 'water' should be... that it couldn't possibly be water.
Disco
Roar Guru
I guess it depends on to what extent you regard T20 as 'cricket'.
josh
Guest
I'm not so sure. The West Indies team still has players favoring money over home team loyalty. In a region which is generally poor, the lure of big money contracts will most likely out weigh any ambition to represent the region in tests. The WICB can't compete internationally with pay. So the status quo will remain.
Shivaji Thapliyal
Roar Rookie
I did not say that they are back as a test-playing nation. I said they are back as a cricket-playing nation and I have emphasized this is specifically and only in the T20 arena. At the same time, it gives them a glimmer of hope in test cricket as well but it remains to be seen if their test cricket is impacted or not. But I definitely see them continuing to remain a strong T20 team from this point on.
Shivaji Thapliyal
Roar Rookie
That's the point I am trying to make. This time it's different.
sheek
Roar Guru
I'm not sure how to answer this question. If winning the T20 world cup suggests the Windies are back as a test playing nation, then I would suggest you have well & truly lost your marbles. But since there's every likelihood test cricket is heading down the gurgler, & T20 cricket is the international future, then perhaps you're right.