Specialist coaches, High-peformance-centre: Immediate, long-term reforms announced by CWI following emergency meeting in August

Cricket West Indies is taking bold steps to revive the team’s fortunes. On Friday, the organization unveiled a mix of quick fixes and long-term plans after a key meeting in August with cricket legends and top players. The goal? Turn around the West Indies’ recent string of losses and build a stronger future for the sport.

The emergency session came right after a rough patch, highlighted by the team’s humiliating 3-0 home series defeat to Australia in July. Fans still remember the shocking collapse at Sabina Park, where West Indies crumbled to 27 all out while chasing just 204 runs—the second-lowest Test score ever on that ground. Heavy hitters like Brian Lara and Sir Clive Lloyd joined captains Shai Hope and Roston Chase, plus head coach, former players Anthony Grey and Ramnaresh Sarwan, and other stakeholders to tackle the issues head-on.

The group pinpointed eight major challenges dragging down West Indies cricket, from fading regional tournaments and gaps in players’ technical, tactical, and mental skills, to a struggling franchise system, poor infrastructure, missing specialist coaches, limited ICC revenue shares, broken player development paths, and weak fitness standards.

After heated talks in August and follow-ups, the Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee crafted a roadmap of actions. The CWI Board greenlit it all during their September 25 quarterly meeting. Here’s what they’re rolling out:

Quick Wins (Next 0-6 Months):

• Hiring an expert international batting coach to train players across the board, plus a full-time sports psychologist and performance coach for the senior men’s team. The women’s team gets a similar full-time upgrade.
• Pushing forward a major project for a cutting-edge High-Performance Centre at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, complete with top-notch nets, a gym, and rehab facilities.
• Cracking down on accountability: Franchise teams must now submit player development plans and hit new standards. They’ll track fitness with a regional leaderboard to keep everyone sharp.

Bigger Picture Changes (Medium to Long Term):

• Launching a National Cricket Development Framework to connect grassroots, schools, academies, and elite programs for smoother player pathways.
• Overhauling the franchise system to boost player growth, maybe even exploring new pro models.
• Setting up standardized academies for 11- to 18-year-olds to feed talent into high-performance setups.
• Finishing the High-Performance Centre as the go-to hub for top-tier training in the region.
• Boosting financial stability by pushing the ICC for fairer revenue splits and teaming up with governments, businesses, and donors.
• Creating a mentorship program linking current stars and West Indies legends with young talents.

CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe shared his thoughts: "These reforms represent decisive action to strengthen our systems, raise standards, and provide the next generation of players with the tools, facilities, and mentorship they need to succeed. While challenges remain, our commitment to cricket development across the region is unwavering, and all efforts will be made to prioritize the execution of these initiatives."

The timing feels urgent—West Indies just dropped a 2-1 T20I series to associate nation Nepal in the UAE. With these reforms, CWI hopes to spark a comeback and get West Indies cricket back on top.

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