Tuesday 23 September 2014 12:41, UK
Brian Lara says the West Indies must make big changes to the way cricket is run.
The former West Indies batsman has major concerns about the team and wants to see better organisation, especially before they face England in a three-Test series in the Caribbean next spring.
"For me, West Indies' problems don't lie with the players," Lara said. "It's far deeper than that, with the organisation, what they are doing to enhance our cricket from a very low level.
For me, West Indies' problems don't lie with the players. It's far deeper than that, with the organisation, what they are doing to enhance our cricket from a very low level.
"What you see on the surface, it's what our cricket is all about, which is not a lot of fabric in it. Until we start doing that -then you can look at the players and make them responsible for their performances.
"You look at some of our players, they are the most sought-after players in the IPL - the likes of Sunil Narine, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard - why as a team you can't put it together?
"I believe the structure they are playing in, away from home, seems to be a little more organised than what they are accustomed to."
In 31 Tests in the decade from 1995, the Windies won 13 (42 per cent) but during the following 10 years were victorious in only six (19 per cent) out of 31 Tests, including a winless run from 2005 to February 2009.
Lara played throughout the late 90s and early 2000s. The Windies have, however, won four of their last seven Test series, although these were against Bangladesh (twice), Zimbabwe and New Zealand.
The former West Indies captain also praised England's Test series victory this summer against India which saw Alastair Cook's leadership heavily questioned initially.
"I think it was a great fightback," he said. "First of all I was very happy to see Alastair Cook stuck it out and he handled his responsibility which is most important.
"He could not really chart his own course, he had the support of the team, the backing of the selectors and the board and the public - they were on his back for some time.
"it was nice to see England come back under his leadership and hopefully they can take it on to another level because they are a little in the midst of a transition, where they lost a couple of players, they tried to form a new team and it's a bit difficult especially when your star players aren't around."
