By: Patrick Green
LAUDERHILL – “If the West Indies team is to regain their status at the top of international cricket, the West Indies Cricket Board must put in place a program that finds and develop talent throughout the Caribbean rather than leaving such a critical job up to the different islands,” this is the view of former West Indies captain Richie Richardson.
The Antiguan who captained the West Indies from 1991 to 1996 in 24 test and 87 One Day Internationals was in South Florida over the Memorial Day weekend participating in the MAQ T 20 four-team tournament, at the Central Broward Regional Sports Park. His West Indies All Stars won the championship which included an International and a Pakistan All Stars teams as well as the Canadian national team.
Richie Richardson at bat
(Greenp Images photo)
Commenting further on the once feared West Indies team, Richardson suggested that “a good development program that is managed by the board would go a far way in helping the Caribbean side.” The program he said, “must start at the youth level and should go all the way to the seniors in order to maintain consistency, efficiency and accomplishment for the players, while producing winning results for the people.”
BACK (L-R) Franklyn Rose, Hamish Anthony, Tim Allen, Shawn Findlay, Courtney Brown, Carlitos Lopez, Richie Richardson (Capt.), Philo Wallace.
FRONT (L-R) Shawn Riley, Shawn Beckford, Renaldo Francis, Steven Taylor, Gaston Walker, Stuart Williams
(Greenp Images photo)
“Generally, the West Indies team is weak,” he said. “Everyone is hammering the test team but but the problem is throughout.” The former captain said that the West Indies team needs a good system that will see players playing more in the Caribbean than they are doing now. This he said could take the form of a professional league which will develop their talent, strengthen their skills as well as their discipline and concentration.
While he believes that the Caribbean side has the potential to beat the Australians in the current home series in the West Indies, “it will be a struggle and will take good discipline, teamwork and concentration to defeat the world champions,” he noted.
West Indies Team celebrating their win
(Greenp Images photo)
Richardson said he does not miss playing international cricket as he has been enjoying what he has been doing since retirement in 1996. He is currently involved with the Sanford 2020 organization, is a sports tourism officer and an ambassador at large for Antigua. He also plays for the Lashings World eleven in UK.
Richie Richardson accepting trophy and $25,000.00 check from Syed Refaie, President of Cricket Council USA.
(Greenp Images photo)
