Legendary West Indies spinner, Lance Gibbs has issued a call for the legends of the game to be incorporated into helping improve West Indies cricket.
The 85-year-old Gibbs was at the time speaking on the popular radio programme, Mason and Guest.
Gibbs, who took 309 wickets from 79 Tests said, “What I would like to see is some of the great players we’ve got, ask the West Indies board to get them together and bring some of our young top players and let us give them coaching.”
The former world record holder for most wickets in Test reckoned that it should be implemented where the past players who “have been through the mill and know particularly well about the game,” can converse with the players to help them improve.
When asked if he would be willing to assist, Gibbs replied, “Well why not? Anything that will help West Indies cricket and put it back in the place it should be…our politicians…things don’t go particularly well cricket is the only thing that holds us together in the Caribbean and this is why it must be encouraged.”
Gibbs said that during his playing days, Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes, and Clyde Walcott were some of the players who he looked forward to having conversations with in order to improve his game.
“When I started playing cricket I followed Everton…Clyde Walcott was my hero in Guyana and therefore was the father giver at my wedding…then I went to stay in Jamaica by Frank…these are the fellas I wanted to follow during my career, you want to talk to them and mix with them on things that are right…” he stated.
Gibbs compared cricket back then to recent times stating, “Our youngsters, you see them, they don’t even come and say hello…”The former off-spinner said that he is disappointed with the current state of West Indies cricket and would do whatever is possible to return the Caribbean side to the pinnacle of the sport.
“Deep down inside you know I’m very disappointed. Disappointed in the attitude of the players and the way they have approached it,” Gibbs stated while adding, “the crowds are staying away which is a poor example.”
The ICC Hall of Famer was particularly critical of the current crop of spinners, who he suggested do not turn the ball.
He also suggested that the batsmen are not spending enough time at the crease.
“Let’s put things into perspective. We play limited-overs cricket at a fair pace. You got 20 overs and 50 overs. The 20 overs is a slug and our young players are not putting their heads down and batting for a period of time. So we need more probably 50 overs.”
