Former West Indies captain, Sir Richie Richardson, is of the opinion the Caribbean side can return to the top of world cricket.
Speaking recently on the Barbados radio programme, Mason and Guest, the International Cricket Council match referee agreed with Michael Holding of seeing a light at the end of the tunnel with respect to the future of West Indies cricket.
“There is always light at the end of the tunnel,” he said adding…”If you don’t think there is light at the end of the tunnel, you’re wasting your time.”
Richardson, who played 86 Tests and scored 5949 runs at an average of 44.39, added:“I’ve always said the world is a round place, we had our time and I’m sure it would come back again, maybe not as soon as we would expect, or maybe not the same.”
The 58-year-old former top order batsman, said that it was the inherent nature of humans of wanting to improve that will drive West Indies cricket back to the top.
“We, as human beings, we always want to be the best we can so we are going to be trying to improve at all times.”
The veteran of 224 One Day Internationals also laid out a few areas that the administration needs to focus on if the Caribbean side is to dominate the game.
“People in authority will try to do the things that can improve our game and I believe once we ride, keep believing, we can get better.
“Invest in the players, invest in the young players, invest in the development system then I can see our team becoming competitive again,” he stated.
Richardson, who scored 16 Test centuries opined that it is the raw talent imbedded in the players from this part of the world that is distinct but suggested that there needs to be a system to harness the talent and mold it into a structure.
“We all know the talent in our genes and that nobody can take that away from us. So once we can put all the right things in place, develop a very strong culture again from the grassroots right through, then we can be competitive again,” he expressed.
West Indies are currently ranked eighth in Tests, ninth in ODI and 10th in T20I
