In light of recent criticisms from Caribbean leaders of Cricket West Indies (CWI) and its President Dr Kishore Shallow, Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) boss Dr Donovan Bennett has come out swinging. According to the JCA president, governments around the region are equally to blame for the decline of the sport in the Caribbean.

Despite decades of concern, perception around the West Indies hit an all-time low last month following the 0-3 Test and 0-5 Twenty20 International sweep by visitors Australia.

The team also created unwanted history in their third test defeat at Sabina Park, after being bowled out for 27, the lowest Test total in 70 years and the second lowest in the history of the near 150-year format.

Since the defeat, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister called for Shallow’s and the entire board’s resignation as well as a forensic investigation into CWI’s operations.

BENNETT… governments across the islands, who are criticising the president and the board, are not doing what they’re supposed to do (Garfield Robinson)

Guyana’s president and chairman of the Caricom Sub-Committee on Cricket Irfaan Ali wasn’t as scathing in his response but called for a “full evaluation and accountability to the people of this region.”

However, Bennett, who is also a director of CWI, believes regional governments have failed to adequately support development programmes which has led to the failing of the senior team.

“Governments across the islands, who are criticising the president and the board, are not doing what they’re supposed to do. Don’t you tell me that primary school cricket, high school cricket and kiddy cricket should be the remit of the West Indies board – no, that’s a government responsibility and they’ve not been doing it,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“Governments have got to understand that they’re forcing us into areas where we shouldn’t be and as a result of the lack of spending at those levels, the type of players we get at age 17, 18 and 19 are not properly schooled. So when you’re going to play at that age, you have to show that player how to hold the ball or bat, we shouldn’t have to do that but we’re doing it because at the junior levels, the government should be spending money and having the proper coaches systems in place because it’s not there.”

Bennett says the successful track and field model in Jamaica should be the blueprint of how cricket should be operated.

“It’s a huge success because at the junior levels, the JAAA (Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association) has no responsibility. Most of the cash they spend is spent on the Under-17, Under-19 and the senior level. They don’t put on meets at primary schools but the JCA has to do it for cricket,” he said.

“That perception has to change, governments in the region have to step up to the plate and do what they’re supposed to do and leave us to do what we’re supposed to do.”

The JCA boss says all stakeholders need to work together to bring sustained glory back to the West Indies.

“Everybody is at fault. I’m not kicking the governments at the expense of CWI because there are areas [that are] CWI’s areas of responsibility that we’re not doing well too,” he said.

“But what I don’t want is all the various stakeholders criticising CWI in isolation because I don’t think we deserve that. There are other groups and other areas that governments should be responsible for and they’ve not taken up that responsibility.”

West Indies tail-ender Jayden Seales is bowled by Australia’s Mitchell Starc (out of picture) while his teammate Alzarri Joseph (left) looks on, on day three of the third and final Test match at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, on July 14, 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Dr Kishore Shallow, Cricket West Indies president

Irfaan Ali, chairman of the Caricom Sub-Committee on Cricket  (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

BENNETT… everybody is at fault (Photo: Observer file)