West Indies is in the worst phase of its cricket history at the moment. The Caribbean team lacks the ability to perform well consistently, and in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 tournament, they failed to make it past Round 1 of the mega event.
West Indies team, which started the 2022 World Cup journey with a 42-run defeat against Scotland, managed to stay in the tournament by winning the second match against Zimbabwe by 31 runs. But the two-time champions was eliminated from the first round of the Twenty20 World Cup for the first time in history after the Irish team won the decisive third match easily by 9 wickets.
Also, with the recent heavy defeat of the West Indies cricket team in Australia, many fans as well as Cricket experts are wondering how the team will recover and regain its former glory.
Although it may not be easy, there are steps the CWI authorities can take to help the team regain strength and be more competitive in the upcoming matches.
There are many steps that the West Indies giants can take to reassert their dominance in international cricket. Some of them can be mentioned as follows.
* One of them will be the change of head coach. The current head coach Phil Simmons said that he will step down after the ICC World Test Championship with the Australian cricket team. So the board is now tasked with appointing a new head coach and that decision needs to be taken properly.
* Cricket is a mentally demanding game, and the ability to stay focused and poised under pressure is essential for success. Therefore, CWI authorities should take steps to improve the mental strength and resilience of the regional team.
Cricket West Indies can help the team develop this mental toughness by providing them with the support and resources they need to remain mentally sharp and focused in the face of adversity.
* Mainly, the West Indies cricket authorities need to take a long, hard look at the team’s performance in past matches and identify areas where they have fallen short. This requires an examination of team tactics, strategy and individual athlete performance, as well as how opponents have been able to exploit regional team weaknesses.
* Also, borrowing from the strategy of the Moroccan soccer team, which reached the semi-finals of the soccer world cup. Of their 26-man squad, 14 were born overseas. They send talent scouts to European nations and offer talented players of Moroccan heritage to the Atlas Lions.
The West Indies can do the same, and there are millions of Caribbean heritage in the US and UK. Clinics enable regional cricket coaches to identify their talents. If England can trap Jofra Archer, surely the same can be reversed.
* Also another key factor is speed. Speed is one of the main tools needed to win in regions like Australia. However, none of the West Indies bowlers looked threatening in the Australian conditions except for Joseph.
* As a long-term measure, young cricketers can be given opportunities for cricket tours in foreign countries. This enables them to recognize the conditions of each country from a young age and they can get a proper understanding of its climate.
* In addition, West Indies white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran announced a few days ago that he will also step down as captain after losing the final match of the CG Super 50 series.
Right now, West Indies needs to get the next lead right as the road to become world champions once again is very steep and uphill. However, the next leadership may not be as easy as many think, as there are very limited candidates to choose from.
As there is a lack of leadership qualities among the current West Indies players, a captain should be selected very carefully as the next white ball captaincy will be a determining factor in the future of the West Indies team. A leader like Sammy who can bring all parties together will be a good decision.
* At present, many say that CWI is limited to only a few countries in the region. Therefore, it is necessary to promote the game in other countries and give them the opportunity to represent the regional team.
Ultimately, the key to the West Indies cricket team’s success will be its ability to learn from its mistakes and continuously improve. This requires a commitment from the team’s players, coaches and support staff to work together and make them the best they can be.
With the right approach and mindset, the West Indies cricket team can bounce back from recent heavy losses and reclaim their place among the world’s elite cricketing nations.