West Indies’ cricketing decline feels terminal – and that should worry everyone - The Athletic - The New York Times

The recent scoreline of 27 all out, dismissed by Australia in a Test match with an almost brutal efficiency, wasn't just a defeat; it was a profound humiliation that laid bare the terminal decay of West Indies cricket. For a team that once bestrode the cricketing world like a colossus, this abject surrender, punctuated by Scott Boland's hat-trick and Mitchell Starc’s entry into the 400-wicket club, felt less like a bad day at the office and more like a final, desperate gasp. The innings lasted a mere 12.4 overs, barely enough time for the crowd to settle, yet long enough to etch itself into the annals of cricketing infamy and spark a global conversation about the future, or lack thereof, of a once-vibrant cricketing powerhouse.

This catastrophic performance isn't an isolated incident but rather the latest, most egregious symptom of a deep-seated malaise. The fallout has been immediate and fierce, with legends and pundits alike weighing in on the precipice West Indies cricket now faces. Brian Lara, a true titan of the game, offered a veiled but pointed critique, suggesting that the allure and financial might of franchise leagues like the IPL are drawing players away from the longer, more demanding format of Test cricket, thereby eroding the foundational strength of national teams. This sentiment was echoed by former England coach David Lloyd, who went further, directly blaming India's overwhelming financial influence for siphoning talent and resources, leaving smaller cricketing nations struggling to compete and retain their best players. The lament is clear: when the best players prioritize lucrative T20 contracts over national duty in Tests, the very fabric of traditional cricket begins to unravel.