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A Sobering Scorecard: West Indies’ Collapse and the Illusion of Administrative Fixes

by Michael Bascombe

West Indies cricket suffered another humbling blow on Sunday, losing the third and final Test match against Australia by a crushing 176 runs at Sabina Park in Jamaica. Set a modest target of 204 runs for victory, the home side capitulated for a record-low second innings total of just 27 runs—one of the lowest in the history of Test cricket and a moment of deep embarrassment on Caribbean soil.

The defeat sealed a 3-0 series sweep for the visiting Australians, leaving fans across the region disheartened, frustrated, and searching—once again—for answers. And, as is often the case in times of crisis, the calls for administrative change have grown louder.

There are always those who believe that changing administrators will magically reverse the decline of West Indies cricket. Whether it was Sir Wes Hall, Sir Julian Hunte, Dave Cameron, Ricky Skerritt, or now Dr Kishore Shallow at the helm, there exists a stubborn belief that rotating leadership at the top will somehow produce instant victories on the field.

But this view, though emotionally understandable, is deeply flawed.

History has shown us that leadership alone cannot fix deeply entrenched structural issues. It reminds me of the days when fans in Grenada would call for the dismissal of Ashley “Ram” Folkes or Cheney Joseph every time the national football team lost a match. But even with new faces at the top, the results remained largely unchanged. That’s because success requires more than just a fresh nameplate on an office door—it demands a comprehensive strategy, sustained investment, and, most importantly, a shift in mindset.

Even if we were to gather every West Indies cricket legend—Richards, Lara, Holding, Ambrose—and give them leadership positions today, there would be no immediate renaissance. Why? Unless there is a fundamental change in the attitude, discipline, and commitment of the current crop of players, the cycle of mediocrity will continue.

Talent, which the Caribbean has never lacked, is not the issue. The problem lies in the execution, preparation, and professional culture surrounding the game. Without the hunger to compete at the highest level, the willingness to put in the hard work, and the respect for the maroon jersey, past glories can only serve as nostalgic reminders, not solutions to the present challenges.

This is not a West Indies-specific dilemma. Even Brazil, the spiritual home of football, has tried bringing back legends into coaching and management roles. Yet their national team continues to struggle.

The greatness of the past, while inspiring, does not automatically translate into success in the present.

West Indies cricket finds itself in a similar position. Until we prioritise long-term player development, invest in grassroots programs, modernise training infrastructure, and instil discipline and professionalism from youth levels up, changing administrators will be like rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship.

There are broader regional efforts aimed at addressing the crisis. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has a dedicated Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket, chaired by Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali. The group has held several meetings to assess the current state of the game and chart a roadmap for the future. They’ve reviewed the outcomes of a regional cricket conference and even discussed avenues for funding the sport at the regional level.

Yet even CARICOM’s involvement has its limits. A decade ago, a detailed final report by the CARICOM Cricket Review Panel was submitted following months of consultation with stakeholders. The report included sweeping recommendations on governance reform, many of which have been adopted by Cricket West Indies (CWI). Still, the results on the field have not improved in any meaningful or consistent way.

This raises an important point: regional governments, while having the right to support and scrutinise cricket, must also widen their focus to sports as a whole. Cricket cannot be the only vehicle for regional pride or development. A holistic approach to sports—encompassing education, health, youth empowerment, and economic opportunity—will lay a foundation that benefits all disciplines.

In the meantime, West Indies fans must be willing to face an uncomfortable truth: no single administrator, coach, or cricket legend can wave a magic wand to restore former glory. The change must begin at the grassroots, in the attitudes of players, the systems that develop them, and the values we promote across the sporting spectrum.

The scoreboard at Sabina Park tells a painful story. But it is not the first, and it won’t be the last unless we choose a different path—one rooted in realism, responsibility, and long-term resolve.

Caribbean Anti-Doping Official Warns Athletes Against Participation in Controversial Enhanced Games

by Michael Bascombe

A leading Caribbean anti-doping authority has issued a firm warning to regional athletes to steer clear of the controversial Enhanced Games set to debut in August 2026.

Speaking on the TalkSports programme on Saturday, Dr Adrian Lorde, Chair of the National Anti-Doping Commission of Barbados, cautioned athletes about the serious health risks linked to performance-enhancing drug use despite the event’s promise of substantial financial rewards.

During the live interview with host Michael Bascombe, Dr Lorde emphasised that the allure of lucrative earnings should never eclipse the potential physical and ethical dangers involved. “Athletes must weigh the immediate gains against the long-term impact on their health and the integrity of their careers,” he said. “Doping carries risks that extend well beyond the playing field, including severe medical complications and lasting damage to an athlete’s reputation.”

Earlier this week, the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) released a formal statement condemning the Enhanced Games concept in unequivocal terms. The organisation labelled the event as “abhorrent,” particularly because it promotes various forms of doping, whether state-sponsored, medically supervised, or otherwise.

“The encouragement of any form of doping, whether state-sponsored, ‘medically-guided’ or otherwise, is abhorrent,” the statement declared. “Those who engage in such practices should not enter clean sport, nor hold the title of champion, record holder or otherwise. Beyond competition, any individual or group that supports these Games should hold no position of leadership in sport or other sanctioned competition.”

RADO further warned that the Enhanced Games represent a fundamental threat to the values that underpin global sport. “The Enhanced Games can be seen as a body which is attempting to undermine and contaminate what the global sports movement continually works hard to protect and preserve.”

Dr Lorde reinforced this position, urging Caribbean athletes and sports organisations to take a unified stand. “We encourage all athletes, particularly those in the Caribbean, to steer clear of the Enhanced Games and the significant risks they entail — both to personal health and to the integrity of sport,” he said.

The National Anti-Doping Commission of Barbados and RADO concluded by calling on all Caribbean sports bodies to publicly oppose the Enhanced Games, ensuring that the region continues to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and athlete safety.

A Critical Moment for Caribbean Media: Urgent Need for Strategic Investment and Sustainability

by Michael Bascombe

The announced closure of SportsMax by Digicel, alongside the immediate shutdown of Loop News, marks a significant and troubling moment for Caribbean media. For over 20 years, SportsMax has been a cornerstone of regional and international sports broadcasting, instrumental in developing Caribbean sports journalism and delivering high-quality, culturally relevant programming to its audiences.

These losses expose the precarious state of media sustainability in the region. The disappearance of such influential platforms echoes the past decline of notable institutions like Radio Antilles, the Caribbean News Agency (CANA), and the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC). These historic precedents highlight the urgent need to rethink how media operates, funds itself, and remains relevant in an evolving digital landscape and to recognise media as a vital sector deserving of formal support and strategic investment, akin to tourism or agriculture.

Going forward, the path must be one of strategic investment and the establishment of sustainable frameworks tailored to the unique needs of Caribbean media. This includes fostering partnerships between governments, private sector stakeholders, and regional organisations to provide financial stability, infrastructure, and innovation support. It also encourages partnerships among media houses, broadcasters, and educational institutions that will nurture the next generation of Caribbean storytellers.

Without decisive action, the region risks losing not only its media platforms but also its ability to shape its narrative in sports and beyond. The closures of SportsMax and Loop News are a clarion call to stakeholders to elevate Caribbean media from a vulnerable sector to a resilient and thriving pillar of regional identity and development.

Commonwealth sports ministers to meet on eve of the Olympics

Patrick Simmons

JULY 18, 2012 - Grenada’s Sports Minister Patrick Simmons will join his Commonwealth colleagues at the 6^th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting to consider policy guidelines aimed at strengthening Sport for Development and Peace.

Sports ministers from Commonwealth countries will meet in London on the eve of the Olympic Games to discuss how sport can contribute to advancing development goals.

The meeting, on July 25, will draw attention to how Sport for Development and Peace can be used in efforts to address social and economic challenges and promote global public health.

Ministers will also review comprehensive policy recommendations developed by the Commonwealth to help governments, sports bodies, intergovernmental organisations and civil society organisations in strengthening sport-based interventions.

Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, who oversees the Commonwealth’s work in this area, said: “Sport is not only about competition and elite athletes. It is also not a universal remedy to development challenges, but under the right circumstances, it can convey important democratic principles such as tolerance, solidarity, co-operation and respect. It can also foster inclusion for marginalised people and support vulnerable people, including girls and women, people with a disability, those living in conflict and people recovering from trauma”.

“The recommendations will support governments and sports bodies in member countries and position the Commonwealth as a leading site of progressive sport policy."

Ministers will also discuss how to combat threats to the integrity of sport, including illegal sports betting and match fixing and review preparations for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, which take place in Glasgow, Scotland.

Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting is held every two years on the margins of the Commonwealth Games and the Summer Olympic & Paralympic Games.

The last such meeting (5CSMM) was held in Delhi on October 4 2010, a day after the Opening Ceremony of the IXX Commonwealth Games.

Sports Minister: Officials to meet with Grenadian athletes in New York

Sports Minister Patrick Simmons

By Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, July 18, 2012 - The Government of Grenada is collaborating with the Grenada Athletics Association (GAA) and the Grenada Olympic Committee (GOC) to create a greater linkage between Grenada and track and field athletes in the Diaspora, according to Youth Empowerment and Sports Minister, Patrick Simmons.

The Minister confirmed that a meeting is being planned for later this year that will involve athletes and officials in the Diaspora.

“We want to create a greater coordination between Grenada and the athletes outside in the Diaspora,” he said.

He said that the GAA is the driving force behind this meeting where they are expected to meet the majority, if not all, of Grenada’s foreign-based track and field athletes in New York.

The GAA is expected to officially inform the athletes as well as finalised the agenda for the proposed meeting.

“This meeting should provide an opportunity for us to discuss strategies on how we go forward in terms of keeping that line of communication open among the Ministry, the GAA, the GOC and the athletes themselves so they will be able to get better support from the Olympic Committee, better support from the Ministry and better support from the Athletics Association,” said Simmons.

The Consulate-General office in New York is also coordinating some of the initial discussions and there has been communication with the stakeholders in Grenada.

“Our office has made progress in securing the venue and some of the advanced logistics and our Press Attaché (Michael Bascombe) has been coordinating with the Ministry, the Olympic Committee and the Athletics Association,” said Consul General Derrick James.

Only recently the government announced plans to develop a home-grown athletics programme which will involve student-athletes remaining at home to pursue tertiary education as well as train with the nation’s qualified coaches.

The Sports Minister said that initial discussions have taken place with the Ministry of Education and they are expected to partner with the St George’s University (SGU). However, he said no discussions have taken place with SGU as yet.