Poor turnout in Tests worries WICB

To compound the woes of their struggles on the field, West Indies cricket is also enduring a tough time off it, as empty stands have become a common sight in the ongoing Test series at home against India. The fans, clearly unhappy with the team's performances and the way things are run by the administration, haven't flocked the stands, leaving the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in a state disarray.

Dave Cameron, the president of the WICB, expressed his concerns over the predicament and felt the board needed to step up their efforts in attracting audiences to the grounds. "As the West Indies Cricket Board, we need to do a lot more in terms of entertaining people at the ground," he said on Tuesday (August 2). "Right now, a lot needs to be done. We need to have wifi in the grounds, we need to be able to cater for children in a better way.

"Cricket, especially Test matches, is an entire-day experience. Parents want to be able to take their kids to the cricket, to be able to enjoy the cricket, and not be too mindful that their kids are going to drop off a chair. So I think there's a lot that we can do, in terms of 'sportainment', to ensure that the fans come out to the game and not just sit at home and watch the game."

The growing disparity in the quality of the West Indies teams in different formats could also be part of the problem. Between January and April, West Indies managed to clinch three World titles - U-19 World Cup, World T20 and Women's World T20 - but the Test team's form has been abysmal. In the ongoing series too, West Indies have been thoroughly outplayed by a far superior Indian outfit. Yet, Cameron firmly believes that the sport isn't dead in the country and there are supporters who still take keen interest.

"A lot of people, fans out there, are interested in what is going on. So it's not that the game is dead, it's how do you get eyes coming into the ground and watching it versus those who are watching on social media or on television.
 
"Part of why we don't have as much crowds today is the team is not the best team, and when I say the best team, meaning we're not winning at this point in time," he pointed out. "But, that said, I can assure you, based on our Professional Cricket League [the regional first-class competition] and where we're at right now in terms of development, in another year or so we'll see people coming back to watch Test cricket."