By Zainab Shafiq 
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has rolled out a comprehensive set of reforms aimed at reviving the regional side after years of inconsistency and disappointing performances. The announcement comes in the wake of their embarrassing collapse for just 27 runs against Australia in Kingston earlier this year — the second-lowest total in their Test history.
The changes were devised by the CWI’s Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee, featuring icons like Clive Lloyd and Brian Lara, alongside current leaders. Formed in August after a string of humiliating results, including a 3-0 home Test series defeat to Australia, the committee was tasked with identifying weaknesses and building a roadmap for sustainable success. Their recommendations were officially approved by the CWI board on September 25, marking the start of what the board hopes will be a long-term revival.
Problem Areas Identified
The committee highlighted multiple challenges that have hindered progress in recent years:
- Declining standards in regional tournaments
- Technical and mental skill deficiencies
- Struggling franchise system
- Poor infrastructure and lack of specialist coaching
- Financial constraints
- Inadequate fitness standards
- Fragmented player development pathways
Immediate Action Plan
CWI will take urgent steps within six months, including:
- Recruiting an internationally renowned batting coach
- Appointing a full-time sports psychologist for the men’s team
- Upgrading the women’s programme with full-time coaching roles
- Establishing a high-performance centre at Coolidge Cricket Ground with modern nets, gym, and rehabilitation facilities
- Implementing stricter accountability measures for franchise teams, including individual player development plans and fitness monitoring through a regional leaderboard
Long-Term Vision
Looking further ahead, CWI plans to:
- Create a unified national cricket development framework connecting grassroots, schools, academies, and elite pathways
- Standardize academies for players aged 11 to 18 to feed talent into the high-performance system
- Position Antigua as the hub for elite training with the new high-performance centre
- Seek financial sustainability through equitable ICC revenue distribution and strategic partnerships
- Introduce structured mentorship between former legends and emerging players
Brian Lara stressed that while skill remains important, West Indies cricket has fallen behind in areas such as technology and analytics:
“It’s been that case for years, where we are not in the same level-playing field as other playing countries. Back in the days when skill was the prominent factor, we excelled, we were the best team in the world. But the game has evolved, and technology and analytics, and we now have to see a new way of finding ourselves back to being very competitive. I said not a level-playing field because a lot of the countries are far ahead in these sorts of areas. The skill factor of the game is still there, but not as prominent as it was in the past. It’s a long road; it’s not going to happen tomorrow. It was not about the 27 runs. If it was 57 or 107, will we be feeling any better? I don’t think so. It was the fact that we’ve got something to address, and for us to get back on top, or to be a competitive nation in world cricket, we’ve got to address these situations and address them shortly, quickly, and hopefully we can reap the benefits in the years to come.”
Also, see:
Another New Low: What’s Wrong with West Indies Cricket?
Anas Ahmed