mikesiva wrote:Given the ICC's inability to make proper decisions, I think they are ideally suited to run West Indies cricket....
Seriously though, disputes like this have been the norm in WIndies cricket, ever since Viv Richards retired. Gayle is not the first, and he won't be the last.
No, WI cricket is not dead. Believe it or not, in the Test arena, they've improved, when you compare this team to the team led by Lara. Under Lara, the West Indies remained rooted in eighth place in the rankings. Now, they're seventh, ahead of NZ and only just below Pakistan.
Personally, I think Gayle should be in the team. Other WI fans, like ChrisQ and silvamaine, think he shouldn't be in the team. But I don't think Gayle's presence would suddenly convert the Windies into a winning outfit. He's on the wrong side of 30, and it's time for youngsters to come to the fore.
At present, I don't see the WI reaching the pinnacle of Test cricket with this current batch, but they will win the occasional match now and then. Yes, Test crowds have declined, but the 20/20 was practically sold out, and the ODI crowds have varied between poor and reasonable. You could say that the crowds are comparable to the ones you see in South Africa and NZ for similar versions of the game, so not much difference there, IMHO....
The West Indies will continue to stumble along, in spite of infighting and poor leadership, much like Pakistan.
Thanks for a very nice and honest opinion.