Cricket West Indies’ Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams has revealed that there are sections in the contracts of players contracted by Cricket West Indies (CWI) which speak of consequences for not meeting the minimum fitness standards.
Adams made this revelation during a press conference yesterday as the West Indies named their squad for the upcoming tour of the Netherlands and Pakistan. A release from Cricket West Indies indicated that Evin Lewis had failed to reach the fitness criteria.
“For contracted players who are unavailable for fitness, there are consequences that are outlined in their contracts but I think more than getting the contracts worded in a specific way and I am happy with how the contracts are worded, what I do is I share Desmond’s [Haynes] concern with having players who are good enough in our eyes to be considered for selection and unavailable because of not coming in at minimum fitness standards,” Adams explained.
The Director of Cricket added, “At that point, players who are contracted that is doubly disappointed because that means we would have made an investment in them going back a year and we have nothing to show for that investment.
“This is something very concerning to us, it is something we would have to think very seriously about when we go into the next cycle of contracts, discussions when the selectors sit down to discuss selections.”
Haynes also made his dissatisfaction with the fitness level of players known. He declared, “I am pretty disappointed as well, when you look at the amount of cricket being played around the world, I think there is a certain level of fitness that is required and I think that there is a standard you should set as a cricketer and I do get concerned when you are selecting a side and not sure if these guys are fit enough to finish a tour. There is a level of fitness that is required and all cricketers should try to reach that.”
Cricket West Indies have outlined the minimum fitness standard as 40 points on the yo-yo test, an up and down shuttle exercise which is timed.
