While all of the big gun international teams are battling it out for another piece of silverware, the West Indies are playing a 3-match T20 series against Afghanistan.
Any person would wonder why the West Indies aren’t competing for their second Champions Trophy title, and it makes a fair bit of sense if you think about it.
The West Indies’ squad for the T20 Series was pretty strong, made up partly by their stars that are valued highly in T20 leagues such as the BBL and IPL.
The squad contained Carlos Brathwaite, Samuel Badree, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard and Marlon Samuels, all of whom featured in the just-completed BBL and IPL seasons.
The rest of the squad included Jerome Taylor, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Rovman Powell, Chadwick Walton, Kesrick Williams and untried quick Ronsford Beaton.
While this is still a more-than-capable squad, there are still some big names missing.
Chris Gayle for example.
Gayle hasn’t played an international match since last year’s T20 World Cup, and his last ODI was in the 2015 World Cup. And for anyone wondering if he’s injured, the 37-year-old big-hitter played nine times in the IPL this year, registering scores of 32, 6, 22, 77 7, 8, 0, 0 and 48.
(AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Dwayne Bravo, Similar to Gayle, Hasn’t featured for his national team since a T20 last September due to an injury sustained in the last Big Bash season. He also hasn’t Played a One-day International since late 2014.
Andre Russell was slapped with a one-year doping ban earlier this year, and missed out on half of BBL|06 with a combination of hamstring and knee injuries. Russell last played for the Windies in a T20 against India in August last year, and hasn’t played an ODI since November 2015.
My point is that the West Indies’ big gun players don’t play for their country enough, and while Russell and Bravo’s cases are somewhat excusable, the option of playing for their countries is not lucrative.
England’s Ben Stokes was bought for $2.8 million AUD ahead of the 10th IPL season. Similarly, the West Indies’ players are bought out for less expensive but still crazy prices that don’t pay anywhere near as much as playing for their nation.
If the West Indies had their most talented XI playing frequently, they would definitely be competing for the 2017 Champions Trophy title and quite possibly succeeding in the group stages so far.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
The way WI team is playing against Afghanistan, it is better that they did not make the cut. The problem with WI is not the players who are not playing for them but the overall lack of desire and intent to do well. The WICB isn't that great either and have been in constant tiffs with its players. Chris Gayle, Bravo and Pollard are happy playing in the T20 leagues around the world. They don't really care for WI cricket. The decline has been long and painful for the WI cricket fans. It does not look like ending anytime soon. They need a cricketing icon once again in the mould of Brian Lara to revive West Indies cricket. If it does not happen, we might not see a competitive WI team in the near future.
R Coombs
Guest
What the Windies need to do is bite the bullet and blood some young players and get rid of Gayle , Pollard, Samuals Narine , they are too old and look like they are not interested in the field and they also need new leadership at the top,give that job to the four I have just mentioned
Will Cuckson
Roar Rookie
Yes, but they are ranked 9th because their players don't show enough commitment.
davSA
Guest
It may be valid AL that they represent a collective but my argument is that it has always been so and for a long time the players represented the Brand West Indies with pride . At one point in the 70"s and 80"s the standout brand in world cricket . The islanders as we know are an athletic bunch and competition came from many other sports which attracted the most talented ..But that is also the case elsewhere in the world except maybe in Asia . My experience here in SA is that in any sport ...and I have witnessed this over the years where there is a major decline from previous high standards , be it Football , athletics , tennis , rugby etc. ( I have used these as real examples here ) , look no further than the administration of that sport . In the case of athletics a palace revolt in admin circles , led to a new administration and almost immediately improved on track results.
JamesH
Roar Guru
They didn't make the cut because they are ranked 9th, and only the top 8 teams compete.
Rodney
Guest
*Cough cough* Marlon Samuels...
Art Vanderlay
Guest
50 overs requires too much effort.
Al
Guest
"the West Indies’ players are bought out for less expensive but still crazy prices that don’t pay anywhere near as much as playing for their nation." I think you may have inadvertently stumbled across an important point here - they aren't playing for their "nation", they're playing for a invented entity that carries no meaning outside the game of cricket.
DavSA
Guest
Will you have opened up a discussion that by all rights those of the Carribean should be having themselves . Those cricketers names you have mentioned are all seasoned campaigners. So where i ask are the next level . ........ Nowhere ... The admin of West Indian cricket is defined by selfishness , corruption and a singular lack of foresight . They and they alone stand accused in the dock of letting their own down . .... Can anyone tell me of school programmes , clinics or academies that have been established in this island paradise that may prove me wrong. It is indeed a disgrace.