Ray Ford was in Grenada this past March when the West Indies beat England in the third Test match of the three-Test cricket series. And now, he is singing the same tune everybody else is singing: “They (England) certainly look a different side now.”

And what might have brought about that apparent turnaround?

“Things don’t always turn out this way,” mused Ford, who last November announced his intention to contend for the post of Cricket West Indies (CWI) president. “But sometimes, a leadership runs out of gas, and subsequently, their charges run out of inspiration. A new sheriff rides into town. The troops are re-energised. And things begin to happen,” Ford submitted.

“I don’t thrive on impetuousness. But I’ve been waiting on West Indies cricket to turn itself around for the last 27 years. And it hasn’t,” said Ford, referring to May 1995 when Australia won the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy at Sabina Park. Since then, every now and then, the West Indies at Test cricket, in particular, have flattered to deceive. And even though, sighted on occasion, strutting the hospital grounds, as a patient, it has not yet been discharged.”

But can a change similar to England’s be experienced in West Indies cricket? Ford certainly thinks so. “And that’s why I’m running — to bring new energy to our cricket leadership. Because right now, we seem to be sitting around waiting for change, as opposed to implementing action plans, to make change happen.”

But how have things been going for Ford so far since he made his announcement to run for the CWI presidency, over seven months ago? “Well, how best can I put this?” Ford reflected.

“From the get-go, I knew that I needed to make an impact with the CWI directors who traditionally have had the casting votes, as to who will lead regional cricket. And so, my campaign team and I — with input and critique from one or two former legend West Indies players — crafted what we think is a solid manifesto,” Ford outlined. “And our entry strategy was a kind of double-barelled one.”

“In addition to trying to gain hearings with CWI directors, we figured we’d circulate the document in order to try and garner public support from some of the same former West Indies legend players who have been, for years, expressing their discontent with the way West Indies cricket is being run now,” said Ford. “But to date, as far as outcomes are concerned, and even though we plan to stay in the race until the die is cast, we can’t claim a great deal of success.”

But what makes Ford think that his manifesto is solid and that it should resonate?

“It speaks to the overarching goal of bringing back joy to West Indies cricket supporters like England are doing now. And to achieve that, it speaks to repositioning CWI to focus more on the things that really matter, and addressing head-on our challenges. Among these, our under-resourced feeder systems, the inadequacy of our regional financial partnerships, and the underutilisation of technical expertise and star power,” Ford pointed out.

“It’s a sort of Catch-22,” said Ford. “It’s apparent to us that the former players we have been trying to impress upon, even though none have qualms with our manifesto, are understandable hesitant to being perceived as interfering in the process without there being public endorsement from any of the CWI directors themselves. The directors, on the other hand, are playing it close to their chests.”

And to add to this disappointment, Ford pointed out his inability to even get a hearing with either one of the two Jamaican CWI directors. But gaining hearings with directors, would more likely materialise, with public support from some of the former West Indies cricketers whom Ford has approached. “But that has not been forthcoming,” he indicated.

“This is the discussion that I am trying to generate. And in that context, a rejection of my ideas as expressed in my manifesto is one thing. And that could be acceptable. Because we as West Indies cricket stakeholders, all have our own ideas as to what it will take to refloat our cricket,” Ford conceded.

“But for us to not even have a discussion when so many of our stakeholders are questioning the path we are on, and yearning for restoring the joy we all experienced from West Indies cricket in the past, is to me unacceptable. But this in-fact, has gotten me more motivated to persevere,” said the determined Jamaican.

Ray Ford’s Manifesto:

Objective: The presidency of Cricket West Indies

Overview:

West Indies cricket — both women’s and men’s — is plagued by a myriad of problems. And combined, these problems have translated into mediocre on-field performance. This mediocre performance is particularly noticeable in the oldest format of the game — Test cricket, an arena which we first entered in 1928, and steadily rose to dominate for an unprecedented 20 consecutive years, beginning in the middle of 1976 through May of 1995.

Vision:

Repositioning Cricket West Indies (CWI) as a credible, trustworthy, modern, professional and accountable entity with the ultimate deliverable being, returning joy to CWI’s long-suffering stakeholders.

Challenges:

The problems within West Indies cricket that need immediate attention are:

(1) Governance

(2) Underprepared and Under-Resources Feeder Systems

(3) Inadequate Regional Sponsorship Engagement

(4) Underutilisation of Technical Expertise and Star Power

Because there are now so many systemic deficiencies in West Indies cricket, arresting decline and realising an upward inflection in our on-field performance, will require a leadership geared to addressing these problems simultaneously. Having seen my first Test match in March 1962, I’ve been a stakeholder and keen observer of the fortunes of West Indies cricket for the last 60 years.

As a retired mechanical engineer by-trade, I bring to the table, a problem-solving mentality. In addition, having completed a master’s degree in programme & project management in 2019, at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, I consider myself armed with a cutting-edge skill set tailored to simultaneously addressing complex multifaceted problems, such as the ones our cricket now faces.

(1) GOVERNANCE ISSUES:

Governance is important, because a poor version of it affects the proper functioning of all areas within an operation, especially the ability to attract sponsors. Areas governed which I will address include:

(a) Employing a high-level financial team to leverage a larger slice of the ICC full-member distributions

(b) Financial accounting: Money inflows and/cash disbursements, must be properly accounted for.

(c) Reorienting CWI away from player-centric and coach-centric preparation, and towards one which better strengthens the competitiveness of feeder systems.

(d) Accountability: Coaches must account for persistent poor performances of charges. And a system that creates more competitiveness for player-selections, must be instituted.

(e) Board transparency: Outside audits of any function of CWI, must be made public.

(f) Team selections must be reasonably logical and explainable.

(2) UNDERPREPARED AND UNDER-RESOURCED FEEDER SYSTEMS

(A) Regional tournament: Extend Rounds of 4-day competition.

(B) Under-19:

(1) This level and below, will get more attention.

(2) CWI will nurture regional feeder system programmes.

(3) Devoting staffing to leveraging regional corporate funding.

(4) Encourage more government participation.

(5) Attempt to place some of our promising young cricketers in overseas domestic cricket programmes such as Grade Cricket in Australia, and League Cricket in England.

(C) Under-15:

(1) Fund regional Under-15 competition, as potential feeder system to the Under-19 team.

(2) Organise youth cricket coaching clinics.

(3) RE-ENGAGE REGIONAL CRICKET SPONSORSHIP:

While CWI has landed new global brand name sponsors, at least two major regional ones — Digicel and the Sandals hotel chain, have vacated. A concerted effort will be made to convince regional business houses, that sponsoring CWI cricket programmes at any level, is a win-win for both their businesses, and ours. The Caribbean badly needs good corporate citizens. And domestic cricket badly needs resourcing.

(4) UNDERUTILISATION OF TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND LEGEND POWER

West Indies have produced some of the greatest exponents of all facets of the game. And even though a good many of our technical experts have expressed interest in coming on-board, CWI has deferred to a coaching staff of which either little is known or whose achievements have not been necessarily outstanding. Correction is needed.

In addition, there are West Indies cricket legends who can be dispatched as ambassadors throughout the Caribbean, to spot talent and to re-kindle enthusiasm for cricket, among impressionable youngsters.

e-mail: fordre@umich.edu

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