ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Former Antigua and West Indies pacer Curtley Ambrose believes an overhaul of the entire structure on the island is needed if the game is to improve.
Speaking on a daily sports programme on Friday, Ambrose said more attention should be paid to development at the grassroots level.
He bemoans the lack of Antiguans on territorial teams citing demise in the quality of cricketers on the island.
“I mean, when you look at Antigua national team, Leeward Islands and even the West Indies team, we don’t have any Antiguans really on the West Indies team and that to me is sad because when West Indies were at their strongest they had Antiguans on that particular team and I am proud to say that,” according to the cricket hall of famer.
I think we need to look after our cricket here in Antigua a bit better and a little more so that we could get a few more international cricketers,” he said
“I believe that the whole structure needs to change from schools level and come right up because you can’t change the top level and the bottom isn’t good. You have to start from the grassroots level.
“I believe sometimes there are too many teams and you got some teams that are just not ready and I believe we should not just have 12 teams so we have numbers. If it means taking six teams so that you can get quality, then so be it,” said Ambrose, who turns 50 next Saturday.
Ambrose, who played his Test for the West Indies against England at The Oval in 2000, took 405 Test wickets and 225 in the shorter version. He played in 98 Test matches and 176 ODIs.
