BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Former West Indies fast bowler Colin Croft, now writer and analyst, is calling for a public inquiry into the regional team’s tours of India and New Zealand.
Croft, writing in his weekly syndicated column, described the recent results as embarrassing adding that West Indies cricket, at least on the Test field of play, has reached “a new low!”
West Indies were beaten 2-0 in India and suffered a similar result against New Zealand in the test series.
“One could only hope that when the festive season is complete, in the first week of January 2014 even, before 2014’s cricket season starts, that a real, not contrived assessment, but a full public investigation, will be completed by WICB, as to what exactly went wrong on these recent tours to India and NZ,” he wrote.
“One thing is certain, even from the outside. Something is seriously wrong with the entire make-up of the senior team and its coaching structure, since none of our cricketers could boast of becoming any better!
Realizing how West Indies cricket has worked over past years, always moving forward without obvious assessments of recent mine-fields do not hold your breath, but such an overview should be welcomed.”
He said that while enjoying the festive season, there should be serious in-depth introspections by the entire recently Test-toured senior West Indies contingent, to assess as to where exactly they, and our senior team, are.
“All may not be fully lost, yet, so drinking very heavily, especially by our players, may not be necessary, yet, but after the last two Tests in NZ, and those in India, one has to seriously worry about this WI team.”
Croft said that utterings from Head Coach Ottis Gibson and Manager Richie Richardson after the second test against the Black Caps, were pointed, suggesting that there could have been serious problems in the camp on tour.
“Had Gibson been a soccer manager, he would have lost his job ages ago, since Champions Trophy 2013.”
“It is Christmas time, so one should be charitable, but how does anyone who really cares about West Indies cricket interpret the absolute disgraceful garbage perpetuated on us from that other Down Under; NZ? 2014 cannot come fast enough, as one must believe that the new year will be better,” he concluded.
Croft represented the West Indies between 1977 and 1982 where he played in 27 test matches and took 125 wickets at an average of 23.30.
The West Indies lost the third and final test against New Zealand by eight wickets on Saturday in Hamilton following a drawn first test in Dunedin and an innings and 73-run defeat in the second match in Wellington.
The five-game One Day International (ODI) series starts at Eden Park on Boxing Day (Christmas Day Caribbean Time).