Clive Lloyd: 'We have to examine all aspects of West Indies cricket'
He was invited to be part of an emergency summit on the game after WI were rolled over for 27 by Australia at Sabina Park
Andrew McGlashan
16-Jul-2025 • 7 hrs ago
West Indies folded for 27 inside 15 overs on the third day in Kingston • AFP/Getty Images
Clive Lloyd has said that "all aspects" of West Indian cricket need to be examined after he was invited to be part of an emergency summit on the game following the Test team's 27 all out against Australia at Sabina Park.
West Indies came within touching distance of equaling the lowest-ever Test total of 26, made by New Zealand in 1955, with the last wicket of Jayden Seales falling the ball after a misfield had allowed them to scrape past the figure.
Lloyd, who was extended invites alongside Viv Richards and Brian Lara by Cricket West Indies president Dr Kishore Shallow, added he was "always available to help" and stressed the urgency to find solutions, particularly around the Test match batting.
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"We have to examine all aspects of West Indies cricket from grassroots to the international level," Lloyd said in a statement provided to ESPNcricinfo. "Everything must be looked at closely and carefully. West Indies cricket is an institution. It has given so much to the people of this region and we must do all we can to revive it.
"I'm always available to help in any way. How we can marry the ideas we have with what is necessary and have healthy discussion on the way we move forward, that's what I'm thinking. It has been nearly 100 years since we have been playing top-class [Test] cricket and we have to get it right."
Brandon King, who made his Test debut in Barbados, was the only West Indies batter aside from Anderson Phillip to average over 20 against Australia and his 75 in Grenada was the highest individual score from either side.
During the series, head coach Daren Sammy regularly addressed the side's batting challenges, with an indication they were attempting to score quicker if they struggle to bat time. However, Lloyd was of the view that they had to find ways to be able to build innings adding that pitches around the Caribbean needed to be addressed which has also been a topic raised by Sammy.
"We need a couple of Larry Gomes, more batsmen like him," Lloyd said. "We need batsmen who put a heavy price on their wickets and when they get in look to stay in. There is nothing wrong with digging in and 'batting ugly'. We have to find ways of fighting, occupying the crease, and staying in for long periods to wear down the bowlers. We have not been doing that.
"Obviously, the mental side of our game needs to improve. We have to go back to the basics. We have to look at schools' cricket, club cricket, first-class cricket - are we playing enough; we also have to look at the pitches - how are we preparing them and how they are playing."
West Indies have finished eighth in the three editions of the World Test Championship. Their next series two series in the current cycle are away trips to India and New Zealand.
CWI has recently commemorated 50 years since West Indies' 1975 ODI World Cup victory where Lloyd was captain and Player of the Match in the final his century against Australia.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo