He emphasized that the team’s struggles also stem from their inability to effectively utilize the talented players currently available within their cricketing system.
The West Indies find themselves in a precarious position in the first Test match of the three-game series against England. After being dismissed for a meager 121 runs in their first innings at Lord’s, the West Indies conceded a substantial lead of 250 runs to the hosts.
As the second day of the match concluded, the visiting team’s prospects appeared bleak, with their second innings score standing at 79/6 after 34.5 overs, trailing England by 171 runs.
Legendary England pacer James Anderson’s final appearance before international retirement saw the 41-year-old paceman take a typically frugal 3-32 in 16 overs as the West Indies were dismissed for just 136 on Friday to give England victory by an innings and 114 runs inside three days.
“If you put 100 million, 200 million dollars into the West Indies’ bank account, is it going to change the way we play the game? I’m not sure. We are not harnessing the talent that we have,” IANS quoted Lara as saying on BBC World Service’s Stumped podcast.
The West Indies cricket team finds itself in a challenging position, currently occupying the eighth spot in the ICC’s Test rankings.
Additionally, they failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, which they co-hosted alongside the USA. This stands in stark contrast to their glorious past, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s when they were a formidable force in the cricketing world.
Several factors have contributed to this decline. One significant issue is the increasing preference of players to participate in white-ball leagues, which has diverted their focus from representing the West Indies in international cricket.
Moreover, cricket has lost its prominence in the Caribbean, with other sports like Athletics gaining more popularity among the youth. As a result, the talent pool available for cricket has diminished, further impacting the team’s performance on the global stage.
“Obviously, cricket has been diluted by the number of different sports and different opportunities for kids, but I still believe that corporate West Indies have got to get involved.
“The West Indies Cricket Board hasn’t done the right job in attracting these sponsors to ensure that at least grassroots, but also the academy, all the different things, the facilities, are up to standard. I think these things are very, very important,” added Lara.
