Chase admits structural and financial struggles holding West Indies back
Following West Indies’ innings-and-140-run defeat to India in the first Test at Ahmedabad, captain Roston Chase reflected candidly on the systemic problems plaguing Caribbean cricket. Speaking at the post-match press conference, he pointed to the lack of resources and facilities that have left his side struggling to compete at the highest level.
“I think the systems in the Caribbean are a bit poor in terms of training facilities and stuff.”
Still, Chase refused to hide behind those shortcomings.
“I am not using that as an excuse or something to hide behind for poor performances that we’ve been putting out lately. I still think that the onus is on the players to find some way to churn up runs and wickets and stuff.”
The all-rounder underscored that a shortage of funding has compounded the team’s problems.
“But what I would say is, yes, there is obviously a struggle in the Caribbean for finances. So whatever help we can get, if they are planning to get the help, I hope that we do get it so that we could strengthen the infrastructure for cricket.”
Chase, who led a visibly deflated side in Ahmedabad, added that these issues go beyond player skill — they reflect a larger institutional weakness that has persisted for years.
Poor pitches and slow outfields add to Caribbean challenges
The West Indies captain also discussed how local conditions hamper player development, particularly in producing batters capable of occupying the crease for long periods.
“The pitches in the Caribbean are not really batsman-friendly. So guys don’t really bat for long periods and score those big scores.”
He went on to add that poor outfield conditions further restrict scoring opportunities.
“The outfields in the Caribbean are really slow, so when you hit the ball in the gaps and you think you have four, you probably end up struggling to get two. Those are just some of the problems that we’re faced with in the Caribbean.”
West Indies’ batting woes have been evident in recent months, with their lineup failing repeatedly to post competitive totals.
“We’ve not been able to at least bat 80 overs, bat a day or even get at least 250 or 300 runs on the board.”
“Anytime you win a toss in a test match and bat and you don’t bat out the first day, you’re always going to be in trouble.”
Recalling the side’s earlier struggles, Chase reflected on the dismal tour against Australia.
“I think that was the first time I’ve ever played an international series where a batsman never scored a hundred in three matches.”
Balancing livelihood and national duty
Chase also touched on a growing dilemma for modern cricketers — the tension between national duty and earning opportunities in global leagues.
“One thing I can say is that there’s a lot more cricket being played. There’s not a lot of rest for a player, especially if he’s playing all formats of the game. And then, especially with the leagues around the world, guys are looking to earn their money. They’re not really resting, getting adequate rest that their body may need. But if they can try to stay as fit as possible and do a lot of gym work and not get too bulky but be strong enough that they can handle the load or in the case where they can pick and choose certain formats of the game and be available, I think that would be obviously better for us. But it is what it is. A guy is going to try to earn his living.”
When asked about former captain Jason Holder’s decision to skip the tour for medical reasons, Chase was respectful of the choice.
“I can’t really speak on another man’s body.”
Even as he defended his call to bat first in Ahmedabad, Chase maintained that the conditions were not to blame for the loss.
“The pitch had no devils in it.”
Gavaskar dissects West Indies’ fall from cricketing royalty
Writing in his Sportstar column, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar offered a sobering analysis of West Indies’ decline, noting how far the once-feared side has fallen from its glorious past. Using the Ahmedabad Test as a case study, Gavaskar expressed disbelief at the team’s lack of pace, precision, and fight.
“In Ahmedabad, apart from Jayden Seales, the other two were simply trundlers, who looked more like net bowlers than international ones.”
He remarked that the lack of aggression in the attack highlighted how far the Windies have drifted from their legacy of intimidating fast bowling.
“No disrespect intended to them, but to see the first bouncer being bowled after half a dozen overs had been bowled made one ask, ‘Is this really the West Indies pace attack?’ Yes, bowling bouncers is a big effort, and on a hot day, it can take a lot out of a bowler, but it is a surprise weapon to stop the batter from moving on to the front foot regularly.”
Gavaskar, who faced some of the most feared West Indian pacers in history, lamented that the current attack bore no resemblance to the fiery pace batteries of old.
“Is this really the West Indies pace attack?”
From giants to shadows of their past
In his column, Gavaskar compared the current team’s lack of grit and quality with the towering legacy of the Caribbean greats.
“For a team that once boasted of the likes of the Three Ws, Rohan Kanhai, Seymour Nurse, Clive Lloyd, Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, to name just a few, there is simply nobody in this current team who looks like getting a million country miles close to them. Of course, I haven’t forgotten the incomparable Garfield Sobers, Viv Richards and the ‘Prince of Trinidad’, Brian Lara. They are geniuses born once in a century and were way above normal human beings.”
Gavaskar noted that while modern West Indies players remain stars in T20 leagues, the application and hard work demanded by Test cricket appear to be lacking.
His reflections aligned closely with Chase’s own concerns about money and motivation — the structural issues off the field now manifesting in their diminished fight on it.
The road ahead for West Indies cricket
Both Chase’s remarks and Gavaskar’s critique converge on a shared concern: the fading identity of West Indies Test cricket. Chase’s appeal for investment and reform underscores the urgent need for infrastructural and financial stability, while Gavaskar’s nostalgic yet critical assessment highlights the erosion of pride and discipline once synonymous with the maroon caps.
For Darren Sammy’s side, the challenge now is not just to rebuild technique or tactics but to reignite purpose — to rediscover the spirit that once made West Indies cricket the envy of the world.
