Former West Indies spinner Nehemiah Perry says comprehensive plans and greater input from territorial boards are needed to help rebuild West Indies cricket after the latest humiliation at the international level.

The men’s team missed out on the Super 12 stage of the Twenty20 (T20) World Cup in Australia after crashing to a nine-wicket defeat to Ireland in a must-win qualifying match on Friday.

West Indies finished last in the four-team group with two points after only one win, while Zimbabwe and Ireland, who both won two matches to tally four points, progressed to the Super 12s. Scotland, who shocked West Indies in a 42-run canter in their group opener, were third with two points.

Against the backdrop of blame aimed at the Ricky Skerritt-headed Cricket West Indies, Phil Simmons, who it was announced on Monday will step down as head coach in December, and the players, Perry told the Jamaica Observer that getting to the root of the problems ought to be the focus.

“It is crucial… we need to regroup as Caribbean people and not just find criticism, but come up with solutions that will help,” the former Jamaica off-spinner said.

“It’s a wide-scale and holistic effort that we need at this time, because we have to think about down the road, not just next year. I would love to see the West Indies’ five-year and 10-year developmental programmes or a pathway for success.”

He also weighed in on the prevalent view that some regional boards, and by extension many cricket clubs across the Caribbean, are not effectively preparing players for the international level.

“It’s either we are stagnant in our development or other teams are improving and have gone ahead of us with their developmental programmes. We, as a body, have to see how best we can assist from our territorial boards, clubs and schools,” Perry urged.

The dip in form of the West Indies Twenty20 side — which recently has often been without a few of its top players for various reasons, including the decision by some to compete in cash-rich franchise leagues rather than donning the maroon — had been a concern before the tournament.

The two-time former champions West Indies, by virtue of not being among the eight top-ranked T20 cricket teams, were forced to contest qualifiers for a chance to enter the Super 12s.

Though prominent all-rounders Andre Russell and Fabian Allen were overlooked by selectors due to unconvincing form, and ace spinner Sunil Narine, who it was said lacked interest, the Nicholas Pooran-captained West Indies appeared favourites to advance from the qualifying group.

As it turned out, however, they were thoroughly thumped by Scotland and Ireland, and though the bowlers performed well in the 31-run win over Zimbabwe, the brittle batting unit was unmistakably exposed.

The running between the wickets for quick singles and twos was typically poor, and batsmen, who markedly struggled against the spinners, were often dismissed to catches in the deep, seemingly ignoring the big boundaries and/or shifts in wind direction in Hobart.

“We were way below par as a team which won the T20 World Cup two times. There were one or two standouts, individually, but in general we were poor as a team. Let me say this though: I’m not surprised because we have not seen players develop sufficiently to challenge teams at the World Cup level.

“It was embarrassing to see teams like Scotland and like Ireland brush us aside — it wasn’t even close. Our inability to adjust, our inability to rotate strike has been haunting us for some time. If as a cricketer you can’t adjust to what is required you might as well leave the sport, because what you’re doing is hoping and praying for the best,” Perry, who played four Tests and 21 one-day internationals for the regional team between 1999 and 2000, told the Observer.

“The players who let the West Indies down — they are the ones who were expected to take this young team to the next round — are the captain, the vice-captain (Rovman Powell) and Evin Lewis. That’s the nucleus of the batting, and if those three are failing you’re going to struggle, it’s as simple as that.

“I think the bowling was ordinary as well, at times. I thought in the last game our bowling wasn’t on par — which is why we were thrashed by Ireland,” he said.