Legend questions players’ motivation amid West Indies’ Test struggles
As West Indies cricket continues to grapple with declining Test performances and the rising lure of franchise leagues, legendary batter Brian Lara has delivered a strong yet passionate call for introspection. Speaking to the media during the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai, Lara acknowledged the financial challenges facing the sport in the Caribbean — but pushed back against the idea that limited infrastructure and resources should be accepted as excuses for poor commitment or subpar results.
“If you want to get things done, you have to have the capital to do it. So that is a major part,” Lara admitted, referencing the financial hurdles that have dogged the region’s cricket development.
At the same time, however, he made it clear that accountability lies with the players themselves. “But at the same time, I would like to ask Roston Chase and the other guys to… do they have the cricket at heart? Do they really want to play for West Indies? And that is the most important thing because you would find a way.”
Passion, not just infrastructure, is the missing piece
Lara reflected on the era of past greats to underscore how West Indies legends succeeded despite similar limitations.
“I mean we did not have better facilities 30–40 years ago. Viv Richards didn’t bat on any better practice pitches or anything. We had to do the same thing, the same grind; but the passion was different. The passion to play for West Indies was different,” he said.
“So I urge the young players to realise that this is a wonderful opportunity. And I am almost sure that every single one of their parents would have had in the back of their mind, their son playing for the West Indies, their son doing well for the West Indies because it meant a lot back in those days,” Lara added.
While he agreed that finances are a serious concern, Lara stressed that they cannot replace national pride. “So I agree with [Chase on West Indies’ struggles for finances], but I still believe there is an onus on each young player to create that love and desire to play for West Indies.”
Franchise pull is real — but so is national responsibility
Recognising the rise of franchise cricket as a competing force, Lara said it’s understandable why players chase higher earnings elsewhere.
“I can’t blame any single player for wanting to pursue cricket as a career outside of the West Indies — because the disparity in what’s happening, playing five or six franchise leagues, compared to playing for the West Indies, is different [in monetary terms],” he said.
Still, he argued that Cricket West Indies (CWI) must find solutions at home. “And you have to have empathy with that player. But you also have to feel that what can we do at home to make sure that that player, or future players, understand that playing for the West Indies is also very important.”
Pointing to the global calendar and IPL’s dominance, he observed, “The IPL has carved out a period of time where it’s exclusive to the IPL. But there’s six or seven different leagues that’s popping up around the world, and everybody’s wanting to do it.”
“So I think the onus is on Cricket West Indies to find a way to create, unify the efforts of the young players who want to go out, but also have them playing for us,” Lara said.
He was emphatic about the importance of competing in marquee series: “And a series against India, we want to play good cricket against the best team in the world. So you want your best players out there. You don’t want your best players in America or somewhere else around the world.”
Loyalty to country must be prioritised
To illustrate that playing abroad and national pride can co-exist, Lara drew parallels with international football.
“I mean if you look at Argentina, Messi grew up in Europe, but he plays for Argentina. But he played for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and he was allowed [to play],” he said. “And there’s a lot more South American footballers that do that, and eventually go back and play for their country, and have the pride to do so.”
He pointed out how cricket powerhouses have managed to strike this balance: “Australia is able to do it. England is able to do it, to keep their players loyal to their country. So we have to find a way to do that and there’s no pointing any fingers at anybody.”
Instead, Lara called for collaboration. “It’s just that we’ve got to come together as a team, as administrators, as coaches, as players. And really and truly if you have West Indies cricket at heart, you will find a way to move forward.”
Test cricket’s viability under pressure
Beyond West Indies’ internal struggles, Lara also addressed the broader decline in Test match engagement, particularly outside the Big Three.
“When you look at the Big Three, you look at England versus Australia in the Ashes, or just recently, India playing in Australia (or) India playing in England, and you would think that there is no greater day of cricket to watch,” he said.
“I’ve watched India versus England at Lord’s and there is nothing to compare it to. I hope that Test cricket does not die, but the viability of it in other nations, the smaller nations, the nations with the inability to bring huge crowds to the game or bring big sponsors to the game, you’re really and truly testing their funds.”
While Lara acknowledged this grim reality, he made it clear he wasn’t giving up. “I would rather like to find a solution to the problem than to say, ‘I give up and that’s the end of it’.”
“The interest (in Tests in the West Indies) is low. If you’re not doing well as a nation and if something else is popping up that’s more exciting, you can see it in the crowds,” he explained.
His concern wasn’t limited to the Caribbean: “Not just in the West Indies, we just saw a Test match in Ahmedabad where literally there is no one at the Test match. It is waning; it is a situation. I appreciate the fact that my 17 years were spent playing majorly Test cricket and I would never give that up.”
Structural reform must follow embarrassment
Referencing the emergency CWI meeting held after West Indies were bowled out for just 27 — their lowest Test score — Lara said the root problems run far deeper.
“We discussed the state of West Indies cricket. The aberration of scoring 27 — nobody wants to do that. But that was not just the issue,” he said.
“The issue lies very deep, and it’s something that I would say (that the) Cricket West Indies is working on in terms of finding a better footing in terms of the foundation of the game, how we grow the game, the facilities that we have to improve on, and finding a way for cricketers to be a lot more competitive.”
The legendary left-hander also reflected on how the culture around coaching and development has changed: “It (finances) is a problem because if you want to do anything, where back in 15–16 years ago, volunteerism was a big thing. You can get things done. You can get coaches. I was coached at Harvard coaching clinic where nobody was paid.”
Build from the domestic level up
For long-term revival, Lara insisted on raising domestic standards and not rushing young players into the international arena.
“So I am hoping that I would like to see a stronger first-class performance before you get into the international scene,” he said. “Back in my day, you had to break records. You sat and watched cricket for two years, 20 Test matches, carry the towel, carry the water before you finally got in. And during that period of time, you grew, you matured. And some mature faster than others.”
Lara’s message, grounded in both nostalgia and urgency, underscores the work ahead if West Indies cricket is to reclaim its former strength.
