Basseterre, St. Kitts. Numerous fans had their spirits dashed last Sunday when the West Indies crashed to a 5-0 series whitewash to Cricket World Cup (CWC) champions, Australia. As one fan related, the local sides got beaten like drums. That might be a cliché, but it is true.

Two trips by Australia to the West Indies within the last 18 months have produced splendid performances – playing unbeaten in the 50-over format of the game on both occasions.

Prior to their just concluded tour, the boys from the land down under, went home undefeated with a World Cup in their possession.

The169-run victory in the final ODI at Warner Park in St Kitts was so convincing - especially when the world champs were exposing several state-players in the absence of key players, that were part of the CWC team including captain Rickey Pointing and Matthew Hayden, who are on the injured list. Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath and Brad Hogg have since retired from the sport, while Shaun Tait is returning after a brief break from the game.

How did we get here?

The West Indies slump started after the retirement of fast bowling pair Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose, prompting the West Indies Cricket Board to interchange several players and captains, but they are yet to find the winning formula. Some might say even earlier. But, we have heard so many post-game interviews where the captains talk about “going back to the drawing board”. From Jimmy Adams through, Carl Hooper, Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan and more recently, Chris Gayle. Perhaps the makers of these boards must be making a fortune.

I had this debate with a Virgin Islands journalist on Sunday during the St. Kitts match, and I had posited that the captains are not solely responsible for the demise of West Indies cricket, but he disagreed.

By the way, a few of the journalists that were part of the Digicel sponsored trip to St. Kitts last weekend don’t even have a clue of the game.

However, this particular colleague follows the game closely and he would have known that Australia was without Rickey Pointing, their most successful captain in history, yet they pulled off a comprehensive victory against the home side.

In my analysis, the problem with West Indies cricket lies with the quality of players we are churning out at the country level, because they possess the skill to hit the ball beyond the boundary and snatch wickets, but lack the ‘on field’ thinking that win matches.

Look into the Australian mirror and we see a cluster of young talent waiting to burst into the team. A few of the players were on display Sunday, but fans would not have known by just looking at the quality of cricket on the field.

The Australian Cricket Board is leading the world in terms of a new face of cricket in business terms. Their Cricket Academy was formed in 1987 and has produced talents like Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds and the investment in Australia’s cricketing future continues.

Relatively new to the Australian side, ‘Man of the Match’ Luke Ronchi destroyed West Indies with 64 from 28 deliveries and this was when the acting captain Michael Clarke promoted him to No. 3 in the batting line up.

On the other hand, the West Indies wing players have not produced immediately upon entering the team and despite a host of failed opportunities they are recalled for future games.

West Indies cricket needs to find an answer quickly. Surely, it must be frustrating for corporate sponsor Digicel to pump millions into a team that continually find ways to loose matches.

At least the regional telecommunication giant is giving fans something to smile about when they attend regional matches and that is purely judging from the glee on the faces of fans last Sunday as Digicel merchandise were being distributed around the ground.

John Dyson, the West Indies coach, wants his players to move away from their way of playing cricket and instead adopt the style of the Australians.

One of the first players Dyson should work with is Chris Gayle, who loves to stand and deliver.

According to a Cricinfo report, Dyson emphasised that his team would get no better unless they curbed their aggression and played with a more clinical approach.

“The first step is for the players to embrace the concept that we need to change some things about our game,” Dyson told Cricinfo.

Although they were partying and having a grand time in the stands, West Indies fans were discussing numerous answers to difficult situation their team now face.

“We should pay them based on their performance,” one fan sitting next to me sighed.

As far fetched as the idea seems, coming from the masses it might be good for the WICB to give it some thought because in times of difficulties West Indies go back to their roots and not the drawing board.

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