Too much T20 ruined Windies in Tests
PUNE, India (CMC) — Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has blamed a heavy diet of T20 cricket for the regional side’s humiliating defeat to India in the just concluded two-match Test series.
Lloyd, who led the most dominant Test team of all times in mid-1970s and ’80s, also severely criticised the West Indies batsmen and a weak bowling attack for the loss.
“T20 hangover? I think they looked drunk,” he told The Indian Express at an event in Pune on Monday.
“I personally believe that T20 is something that brings people to the game, brings money to players and if it’s doing that then you have to stick with it. However, a diet of too much T20 can be very harmful.”
West Indies arrived in India having won six Tests, against opponents ranked below them in the ICC Test rankings.
However, they lost both Test matches in Kolkata and Mumbai inside three days, suffering humiliating innings defeats.
“You simply cannot play some of the shots that a few of the (West Indian) batsmen played,”said Lloyd.
“The batting unit is pretty young, but these young batters need to learn how to apply themselves in a Test-match situation.”
Not once during their four innings were West Indies able to play 100 overs.
The closest was 78.2 overs in the first innings at Eden Gardens, and only two batsmen managed to score fifties.
“I think and I hope that the West Indian batsmen have learned their lessons after watching how the Indian batsmen went about their business. The Indians can play aggressive ODI cricket but they can also transform into Test players, show restraint and bat for long periods,” he said.
“It has been a deeply disappointing tour. The team needs to have a hard look at itself and they have a lot of work to do.”
Lloyd also pointed to the lack of good fast bowlers as another big reason West Indies failed to rally.
“In the first Test when we had them at 120 odd for five, we really missed quality bowlers. We were short on penetrative bowling,” the former Windies captain said.
“I believe that any side you choose, be it ODI or Test, it needs to have balance. Sadly, there is no visible balance in this side,” Lloyd concluded.
