ST JOHN'S, Antigua, CMC:
LEGENDARY WEST Indies batsman Sir Vivian Richards, now chairman of selectors, rapped West Indies cricket bosses Friday on his return to the Caribbean from the South Africa tour.
Sir Vivian said tour management needs to be given more power to make disciplinary decisions.
"We have got to stop fooling around - if we need to move forward," Sir Vivian says.
After watching the West Indies lose the Test series to South Africa 3-0 and the One-Day International series 3-1, the Antiguan maestro, who captained the powerful West Indies team of the 1980s, believes team management must be given more authority and be free from certain kinds of interference.
"We have got to be strong about certain decision making. I can't do it alone. Tom, Dick and Harry can't do it alone.
"We need people who are behind you and not (concerned about) if the individual is from their island and they put their two cents worth in," he said.
SEND HOME MARLON SAMUELS
Sir Vivian recalled the West Indies tour of India in 2002 when the management team took a decision to send home Marlon Samuels, the Jamaican middle-order batsman, for breaking the curfew.
"We felt that an individual needed to be disciplined. I believe if we put various disciplinary (measures) in place sometimes that can be the deterrent.
"And then we had the high order, the judges, who are telling you, 'you cannot do this. There must be one, two, three strikes'.
"And when we make certain comparisons - (Nigeria in the African Nations Cup) had three guys who once broke the disciplinary code. Where were they?
On the next plane out."
Sir Vivian, named one of Wisden's five cricketers of the past century, complained that there are times when team management makes some 'headway' and then there is "always somebody who comes into your way and this is serious problem".
"I'm seriously passionate about West Indies cricket and I would like some individuals to feel the same way I do but there are a lot of guys who are playing games in my opinion.
"People who are in position who could do better to give the authority to individuals for us to be stronger with what it takes to make this team (a good one).
"Too many people are involved in decision-making. I have a serious problem with that. You look at the other cricketing structures and the other cricketing organisations and there are individuals who make decisions because those who are in authority gave them the responsibility or the authority.
"So until we have these little things in place we are going to continue to have these discussions," Sir Vivian said.
