In 2023, the West Indian Cricket team, or Windies, for many decades a giant in the sport, failed to qualify for the World Cup. It marked a sad chapter in an already extensive and tragic history of decline. Clive Lloyd's team of the 70s, which won the tournament twice on the bounce in 1975 and 79, has been nearly forgotten by Caribbean society. The test side, which was once a source of great national pride and anti-establishment rebellion for the post-colonial generation, is now a relic in itself. Great names like Sobers, Lara, Richards, Marshall, Holding, Ambrose and many more, are now very distant memories.

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To say this decline is simply down to a lack of modern talent is a gross oversimplification. The success of Caribbean-born players like Bravo and Archer in commercially driven leagues, short-form leagues like the IPL, Big Bash and the Hundred show that cricketing greatness is still abundant in the region. Furthermore, the recent success of  Shamar Joseph should encourage West Indies fans. This article will look at the wider context of this decline, considering points such as  cricket’s image as a colonial residue, the influx of American cultural influences on young Caribbean people, and the corruption of the West Indian Cricket Board and its effect on dissuading promising talent from international cricket.

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It is first important to consider, however, what created the culture of West Indian greatness in the middle of the 20th century. In the 1960s, the process of decolonisation was in full swing, and cricket, being a previously all-white sport, was opening up for the majority. This created a sense of national pride in the cricket team, as the passing of time offered a medium, the realm of sport, through which to  compete against and defeat their previous colonial overlords. Previous Captains like Frank Worrell, Sir Garfield Sobers, and Clive Lloyd have all spoken about the effect national pride had in  motivating them to achieve their accolades. This was typified by the famous “Blackwash series” of 1984, in which the Windies defeated England 5-0 on away soil. Societal changes have naturally meant, however, that cricket is no longer seen as the game of patriotic rebellion, but more of something to which older generations cling. Even greats from the past such as Curtley Ambrose, who took 408 test wickets between 1988 and 2000, stated that the only reason he got into cricket was due to older relatives persuading him. Anecdotes like this are also echoed by modern players such as Alzari Joseph, as there now seems to be more emphasis placed on American sports such as Basketball within the region.

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Part of the reason for the swing away from the traditional Caribbean pastime of cricket is due to the lack of funding and inadequate investment in the game’s grassroots level infrastructure. The Caribbean is not a substantially affluent area, resulting in a reduced ability to nurture talent and identify exciting prospects. This has meant the West Indies have been unable to keep up with the funding of  wealthier  nations' teams such as Australia, England and India.  This has ripple effects too, as it has led to a player drain from the region. Gifted players have been lured towards leagues like the IPL, BBL and The Hundred which offer more lucrative opportunities. This results in reduced team cohesion and translates to poor results on the pitch.

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It is also hard to overlook the leadership issues facing West Indies cricket. There have been frequent disputes between the West Indies Cricket Board and the players ever since the great Brian Lara was in charge of the squad. These  clashes  are mainly about issues of pay which are far below international cricket standards and have generally led to great instability within the team and a toxic environment. In the 70s and 80s, Clive Lloyds’ team spoke in great detail about how they were playing for pride, and to make the young nations they represented proud. However, this view is no longer compatible with the modern day and the WICB has failed to move with the times in its outlook.

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The demise of West Indies cricket is undoubtedly a tragedy for the sport. Throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s they were, without hesitation, one of the most significant figures in world cricket and their global cultural impact on the world is undeniable. Moving forward, there needs to be an emphasis on nurturing new grassroots talent, reviving team spirit and identity, strengthening the domestic structure, and improving funding to achieve the desired results. The recent Windies test match victory in Australia (the first in 27 years) shows that there is still a passion for the game, and it would be a shame if  Caribbean cricket continued to waste its strong cricketing heritage.