No rebound for Windies cricket

WEST INDIES cricket will not rebound, and must start planning a rebuilding process now. Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC) second vice-president Baldath Mahabir made this clear while opening a fast bowlers clinic at the National Cricket Centre (NCC), Balmain, Couva, yesterday. Mahabir, one of the chief architects of the successful local development programme, said: “There is no hope of a rebound in West Indies cricket. We must rebuild. No amount of plastering over the cracks will work. The foundation has failed and it’s time to go to work.” The fastbowling camp will continue through to Sunday under the guidance of ex-West Indies pacemen Bernard Julien and Kenneth Benjamin of Antigua.

Mahabir continuing said: “Thankfully the development arm of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has kept its focus and is quietly doing its work to strengthen the base of West Indies cricket. “Here in Trinidad and Tobago, about five years ago we started re-inventing ourselves. We placed great emphasis on training and youth development, and one cannot help but notice the positives that have surfaced. “We are now catering to the needs of many of our primary schools at Under-10 level.

We are also offering coaching at Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 levels. Added to this we have a rapidly evolving academy and a number of specialised coaching programmes.” Over the past two years the TTCBC has hosted spin bowling, wicketkeeping clinics, and just recently had a batting camp conducted by Gordon Greenidge. Another ex-Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies fastbowler Ian Bishop missed the camp as he is currently in Jamaica doing Test match commentary in the second Test between West Indies and Bangladesh.