Will West Indies ever become as good as they once were

They set a very high standard back then,and easily lay a claim to having one of the best playing 11 during their heydays.They have become pretty woeful off late,and other than a few performances here and there,they hardly have anything noteworthy to speak of,especially at the Test Level.They do well in ODIs off and on,but even when they do well it seems to be a false dawn.

Virtually all teams,barring South Africa,have seen times where their current crop of players and their form just wasn't good enough.However,almost all these teams managed to have periods of dominance following the decline in fortunes too,minus New Zealand perhaps who seem to hover in that line between average and good at all times.The West Indies decline seems to be the longest.

Are WI's great days as a cricket team over for good? Or is there a chance that they could develop a world class team in the future again?

No..Not in another couple of years at least.
I have my reasons.This WI squad doesn't believe in itself to be a good team,because how else will you explain brilliant individual performances elsewhere but nothing when as a team.They lack belief and to instill that they needed a good captain..and that sure wasn't sammy.
Can we have a  brain storming seesion on this pls..??

Short answer No.
Long answer NOOOOOO.

I don't think unless there's a grass roots level like change, there'd be a whole generation of Sobers, Vivs, Marshalls etc. Which I don't see happening. They could considerably progress with some good talents, but even that is a hard task ATM.

Can u brief me more on that "grass roots level like change"..??
Also they do have good talents,but to nurture them we need a great coach.Someone who can tap it right...maybe.
but no,they are not going to rise above this low,not anytime soon...

Gentlemen,

When you had guys like Headley, 3Ws, Sobers, Kanhai etc. there were no grass roots development. Boys played with self-made bats and improvised to make balls etc. This still existed with the most dominant team in History from the 70s onwards. You played at Primary School and the competition was intense, there was a passion and thereafter you moved up the ranks, with difficulty.

This does not mean to improve and excel infrastructure should not change but the game and its administration has become unnecessarily convoluted.

Through the period of dominance, practically the entire test playing 11 was English County professionals where they honed their skills and developed their natural talents. I think they had to play at least 4 FC matches for their home team to qualify for Tests, pitches were better and all that put together with a rich vein of talent lead to what is said, the rest is history.

These days’ West Indian cricketers, after international debuts, have to learn more on the job than anyone else and that is due to a poor amateur system for players. They have their normal daily jobs to do, if they in fact have a job so the Cricket is mainly part time for the vast majority.

This version of the WICB has aimed to address some of these issues and the most important is the aim to centrally contract 100+ players across the region. They have introduced a franchise system which means the FC season will be more competitive with teams like Leewards Islands and Guyana will benefit from having assistance from better players from outside their region to aid rebuilding.

The Grassroots system is being improved, a similar initiative refined and developed by Richard in South Africa, etc. However that said, there is an understanding, from the people I speak to, that the grassroots is quite well configured but I am sure any improvements will be welcomed.

There are positive changes and changes all fans have been calling for so this period in your history should be embraced and given a chance.

There is a framework of the best 15 or so payers and with a new and respected Chairman of selectors and new Captain at least there is will and drive to implement change.

India will be a good test to see how this team has improved but they were convincing against a weaker opposition as they have to be so that is a plus.

This is not the Hunte & Hillaire cabal at its worst; it is a new WICB so support it.

The continued failing of the WICB and the ICC is in not exerting more influence in resolving the shambles that is the Guyanese Cricket Administration. They have to address this sooner rather than later as the winning U19 team may find themselves in a vacuum, unable to develop.

It is a good benchmark to aim for the success of the past but the past is just that.

There is talent but not in abundance and at the same time as in the 70s.

So to that end neither West Indies nor any other team may ever achieve the level of dominance of that West Indies team of the 70s.

Can they be a very successful team? Yes and the process have commenced. 

When the West Indies ruled the cricket world for nearly 2 decades they usually fielded 4 bowlers whose bowling averages were in the 20s and a minimum of 5 batsmen whose batting averages were in the 40s or more.


WI BOWLING TODAY:

* Only Roach averages in the 20s


WI BATTING TODAY:---Minimum 500 runs scored

* Chanderpaul averages in the 50s; Gayle and Bravo average in the 40s


BOTTOM LINE:

* The WI has a way to go to become a competitive team in tests.

* But in Roach, Taylor, Benn and Narine, they have 4 bowlers who can win a test against a higher ranked opponent now and then----they recently defeated NZ in Trinidad.

* And who knows, they may miraculously win a test in India.

Rev

I like this post too. I love it in fact!  hits the nail squarely on its head

Guyana will lead them out of the arid desert where they roam aimlessly :

Champion of the U19 Formats

Champions of the U15 Format.

The FUTURE looks bright : Guyana is the Key to W.I. success  !

always have been always will be : Marginalise Guyana players at your own Peril 

Have a look at Guyana Championship U19 and U15 Teams : HELP is on the way 

Correct is rite. The Grassroots have to improve in order for cream to rise to the top.  Alvin Kallicharran has been pleading for years now...but no one was listening.