When I listen to or read the various arguments about the demise of West Indies Cricket it never ceases to amaze me how the slant of the argument all ways seem to go towards the lack of talent and the attitudes of the current players.

Even when the discussion leans towards the lack of cricket infrastructure and the poor management of limited cricket resources in the region, the conclusion still is that better attitudes by the current players is all that is needed.

This leads to the question of which should come first the players attitudes or improve management of the cricket resources and a more sophisticated infrastructure.

I am among those who believe that the underdevelopment of West Indies Cricket is entirely due to poor management and the lack of planning by the cricket authorities in the Caribbean. This poor management is to be blame for the player’s attitudes and the inferior cricket structure upon which our beloved game is built.

The counter argument often is that seventeen years ago the West Indies were rated number one with this same inferior structure. It is this argument that disappoints me even more than the ridiculous lows that the team has reach on the field of play.

Because even though at face value this may appear to be so, those of us with an interment knowledge of what made the West Indian cricketer superior before the mid 1990’s, recognize that these factors are no longer present on the regional landscape.

Life in the West Indies has changed and these changes have filtered into our cricket. During the golden days of our cricket history ninety percent of the boy in any village played some form of the game; if you were to do an analysis in today’s environment only ten percent of the boys are playing cricket.

This has resulted in a significant reduction in our cricket playing numbers, as a small cricket nation these lower numbers are not helping our cause. If we were to compare the West Indies with a population of 6 million people to cricket super powers Australia with a population of approximately 19 million people it would suggest that for every 1 high quality cricketer West Indies produce the Australians will produce 3.

Now this is where proper planning and management comes in Australia with more human and financial resources recognized that times were changing and that sound cricket structures had to be put in place. On the other hand the West Indian authorities with significantly less human and financial resources have left our cricket development totally up to chance.

Hoping for a cricket super star in the image of Headley, Sobers, Richards or Lara to appear out of thin air. They seem oblivious to the fact that the great cricketers of the pass were shape by a more nurturing environment.

An environment that included the informal village academies and mentoring systems previously found in the side roads and on the beaches where cricket 101 was taught to the youngsters by the village pros.

The second factor, which had a major impact, was the professional contracts for West Indian players on the English county circuit, these no longer exist in the same portions.

With all these changes taking place it is important that the West Indies Cricket board establish centers of excellence. The centers should be in place from the junior level to harness the skills of our most talented young players.

Only then will the Caribbean be able to produce the type of team that can adequately represent the proud cricket heritage establish by the legends of West Indies Cricket.