West Indies on Tuesday suffered a batting collapse and registered the second-lowest Test total in history after they were bundled out for just 27 runs in the second innings of the third Test against Australia at Sabina Park in Kingston on Tuesday. What’s even more concerning for the West Windies and their fans is that the team fell just 1 run short of recording the lowest-ever Test total, held by New Zealand for 70 years when they scored 26 runs against England in 1955.
Cricket West Indies will call upon batting royalty Clive Lloyd, Vivian Richards and Brian Lara to help dissect their humiliating 3-0 series whitewash by Australia, which culminated in one of the most spectacular collapses in cricket history. Chasing 204 for victory in the final test, West Indies were bowled out for just 27 runs on Monday, recording the second-lowest total in test history after New Zealand’s 26 against England in 1955.
27 all out a new low in West Indies cricket history.
Chasing 204 for victory in Jamaica, the West Indies second innings lasted just 14.3 overs as they were dismissed for the the second-lowest total in Test history, only just surpassing New Zealand’s 26 against England from 1955.The West Indies previous historic low score was 47 against England in 2004.
The embarassing collapse – Mitchell Starc (6-9) taking the fastest five-wicket haul in Test history and Scott Boland (3-2) claiming a hat-trick – wrapped up a 3-0 series sweep for Australia. The carnage prompted CWI president Kishore Shallow to summon an emergency meeting of the Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee, enlisting three of the Caribbean’s greatest batters to give their thoughts on the humiliating defeat in Kingston.
This performance also comes at a time when the future structure of Test cricket is at the forefront of debates. Nothing is yet decided, although some plans may be outlined at the ICC’s annual conference in Singapore this week, and while it can be easy to be drawn into sweeping statements after events such as Sabina Park, the problems facing West Indies in the format are as acute as any of the Full Members.
They have managed a couple of landmark victories in recent times – defeating Australia at the Gabba and Pakistan in Multan – but they look like outliers. The win in Brisbane persuaded administrators to add a third Test to this series, which became the Sabina Park day-nighter.
“To strengthen the discussions, I have extended invitations to three of our greatest batsmen ever: Sir Clive Lloyd, Sir Vivian Richards, and Brian Lara,” Shallow said in a statement on Tuesday.
The trio, who plundered a combined 27 967 test runs in their careers, will join former players Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Desmond Haynes and Ian Bradshaw who already serve on the committee.
“This engagement is not ceremonial. These are men who helped define our golden eras,” Shallow added.
“Their perspectives will be invaluable as we shape the next phase of our cricket development. We intend for this gathering to result in tangible, actionable recommendations.”
Shallow acknowledged that the series result and especially the final match would lead to many “sleepless nights ahead” for fans and players, but urged patience as they continue to rebuild the team.
“While disappointment is natural, we must not allow this moment to define our journey,” he said.
Less than 24 hours later, Cricket West Indies has called an emergency summit with invites to a host of former greats for help. But there will be skepticism about whether it will make any difference. However Former West Indian legend Clive Llyod believes that there are too many holes in the loop for the West Indies to come back to its winning ways or even fighting ways in Test cricket.
We have to examine all aspects of West Indies cricket- Clive Lloyd
Clive Lloyd has said that “all aspects” of West Indian cricket need to be examined after he was invited to be part of an emergency summit on the game following the Test team’s 27 all out against Australia at Sabina Park. West Indies came within touching distance of equaling the lowest-ever Test total of 26, made by New Zealand in 1955, with the last wicket of Jayden Seales falling the ball after a misfield had allowed them to scrape past the figure.
Clive Lloyd, who was extended invites alongside Viv Richards and Brian Lara by Cricket West Indies president Dr Kishore Shallow, added he was “always available to help” and stressed the urgency to find solutions, particularly around the Test match batting.
“We have to examine all aspects of West Indies cricket from grassroots to the international level,” Lloyd said in a statement provided to ESPNcricinfo.
“Everything must be looked at closely and carefully. West Indies cricket is an institution. It has given so much to the people of this region and we must do all we can to revive it.
“I’m always available to help in any way. How we can marry the ideas we have with what is necessary and have healthy discussion on the way we move forward, that’s what I’m thinking. It has been nearly 100 years since we have been playing top-class [Test] cricket and we have to get it right.”
West Indies were once the leading lights of Test cricket in the 1970s and 1980s, but they have since gone through a period of decline and currently rank eighth of 12 teams in the world rankings.They have struggled to field a consistent Test team in recent years with several players often prioritising lucrative franchise cricket over the longest format. They next face India in a two-Test tour of the sub-continent in October.
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