Skerritt confident ‘cricket first’ policy will reap rewards

Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Ricky Skerritt used the forum of the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Virtual Lecture on Monday night to outline some significant changes his regional body intends to implement with regard to governance and policies.

The lecture series, dubbed ‘Reforming Cricket West Indies for Improved On-field Results’, was and organised by The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus.

It saw the CWI president presenting plans which he believes will bring about a change in the fortunes of the regional side on the field, and spark a renewed focus of efficiency and effective governance off the field.

Under Skerritt’s ‘West Indies Cricket First’ philosophy, coaching appointments, administrative employment and procurement of goods and services will be looked at on a home-based policy first, with outside expertise being the next option. That philosophy will see 80 per cent of the total CWI full-time workforce being of West Indian heritage.

REFORM NEEDED

The Kittitian outlined that the West Indies has surely not gotten a return on their investment for the past 20 years, with well over US$700 million spent.

“Although the finger-pointing is continuing, especially at each other, I believe that most of our administrators and directors are now more aware of the need for strategic change and governance reform, at least on some fronts. The truth is – and I am confident that Sir Frank Worrell looking on us would agree – that CWI needs reform on all fronts if we are to get good returns on investment on the fields of play. I am clear in my own mind that pointing accusatory fingers at coaches and moving dozens of new players through our squads have not provided CWI with the level of results that we should all be seeking,” said Skerritt.

The present CWI administration believes that it’s new ‘West Indians First Policy’ will produce, within the next two to 10 years, a 60 per cent win ratio within all three formats and an ICC ranking not lower than five. There is also the strong belief that several elite male and female West Indian players will be ranked within the top 20 players in the world.

Since 2000, the West Indies team has held a win ratio of 21 per cent in Tests, 32 per cent on ODIs, and 45 per cent in T20s.

In a bid to sweeten the pot and reward good performances, the CWI says they will be implementing a player remuneration and contractual system that will reward outstanding performance and recognise future potential. There is also the notion that player welfare must also be at the foundation of such a remuneration system.

“At CWI, I believe we have stopped the ‘knee-jerking’ and reactionary fiddling at the wheel, and instead, are now inspiring and demanding data-based and more collective decision-making from our executives. We are no longer afraid to be focused on medium- and long-term results. Rooted in a mindset that is both technological and entrepreneurial, we are revising our road map to help cricket forge into the future, confident that we can emerge from the current COVID-19 pandemic in the strongest possible shape,” added Skerritt.

One of the immediate changes is that the regional side will no longer be referred to as the ‘Windies’ but should be properly named ‘West Indies’, in recognition of the rich West Indian history and cricket legacy.