“It is very sad and disappointing to see the level that West Indies cricket has sunk to”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Legendary West Indies pace bowler Sir Andy Roberts has slammed the national team for the lack of heart and competitiveness they have shown as of late.

The West Indies currently trail Australia 2-0 in their ongoing three-Test series and are already in a spot of bother following the conclusion of the first day of the third Test in Sydney.

However, while Roberts believes that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) are to blame for the team’s diabolical performances, he added that the players have to be held accountable as well.

“It doesn’t make me emotional, it is very sad and disappointing to see the level that West Indies cricket has sunk to,” he told reporters. “And I am going to not lay the blame totally on the Board, but I will lay the blame on the feat of the players, because the players have to take up responsibility to develop their cricket, so that they can have positive results.

“You don’t have to win, all you have to do (is) to compete, but at the moment we (West Indies) are not competing, definitely not competing.”

Roberts also feels that the WICB made a grave mistake by making Jason Holder captain of the Test team as the 24-year-old is still inexperienced. Instead, Roberts believes that all-rounder Kieron Pollard, who is not currently in the Test side, should have been handed the reins.

“I think they should have not given the captaincy to Jason Holder,” he said. “Personally, I would have given captaincy to Kieron Pollard.

“There is talk he doesn’t play four-day cricket, but he has better average than most of the players. I would have given captaincy to Kieron Pollard.”