Poor turnout in Tests worries WICB

Poor turnout in Tests worries WICB
by Cricbuzz Staff •
Last updated on Wednesday, 03 August, 2016, 12:45 PM

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."

Euthanasia fully legal in cricket.  Jurassic going dodo...remove life support.    :'(

I saw some footage of the stands being empty all the way around, it was pretty disappointing. I don't want to say that it's really anything wrong with that, I prefer to have all the seats to myself.


I saw some groups of people, but like you said, it's always mostly empty. Maybe the promoting of the game isn't reaching target audiences.

When the Indian take over the WICB they will make them successful again.

I recall when the ESPN deal was signed I discussed the need to undertake initiatives to encourage crowds back to watch cricket but the focus was on TV revenues and yet the WICB is in financial turmoil.

As a player, especially playing at home, the support motivates and in fact that atmosphere is a good selling of the brand.

So the WICB has to ask itself what steps have we taken to ensure the games are marketed, promoted, subsidised for the young and old etc.

There is also the issue of spreading games far too thinly and some time ago you had over 75% of a tour being made available to less that 10% of the regions population and even those were played to empty Stadia.

Nice to have grounds in St Kitts etc but are those viable options.

I have heard about restructure the Professional league etc but have heard nothing about pitch improvements. Until that is done, a brand of cricket unfamiliar to the Caribbean will be produced.

The performance yesterday by Chase and Dowrich will go along way to speaking to supporters.

There seems to be a mixed opinion on the state of test match cricket, and even though a lot of game organisers are struggling to get the grounds filled, at the same time they are saying that attendances are on the up from what they used to be.

If that is the case and the attendances are on the increase again, then surely there isn't anything to worry about and in 5 years time every ground in the world will be packed to the rafters? No...I can't see it either...

sureeee!  jess like the paradise they said deh wud make of TT wen deh take ovah! hahahaha

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Liar an' dem. deh all want to kill test cricket.  greeeeeed and visions of sugar plum in deh head wen deh considier a world full of T20 an' ODI

deh see american billions like baseball and baskeball.  deh see a river, an ocean of cash, dollars, rupees, pounds sterling.  deh see gold and silver, diamonds...money, money... money.....wealth, wealth, wealth..riches..endless riches from the huge cricket audience in the world...bigger than american 300 million :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[

oh geeeeeed! 

wat tes' cricket ::confused::  dat is dino fuh dem..jurassic..way too late in the world.  shud have been interred already ::LOL:: ::LOL:: ::LOL:: ::LOL::deh doing their bes' to help it on its way.  hahahahaha.

but english grounds full..especially when is ashes.  Oz grounds too.  and if this stinking wicb of ours is cleaned up and we put a winning team back on the field, full of big fast bowlers, terrific batsmen amazing fieldsmen... BOOOOM!  look out!  here we go again!

doh min' dem. deh kilin' tes' cricket..is deliberate..a serious case of anticipated greeeeeeeeeeed > > >

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Do you think it will be as simple as that though, to get people back watching test match cricket again in the West Indies? I do think that the entertainment factor is a big issue and with a more exciting team selection and proof that the team is going to play with a bit of excitement will no doubt bring the attendances up again, but will that be enough?

It's a genuine question by the way, as I know (as I'm sure we all do) what issues the WICB as had in recent years, and if it IS all down to money then I think that shows that until the WICB is totally restructured then there won't be any hope for test match cricket in the est Indies and you might as well just pack it in now.

Put yur Che beret away, Maps, da revolution iz DEAD... ::dead::


Only dodos still around are stuffed...taxiderm de tests...  ::yawn::


"And there shall be a new birth of
cricket FOR THE PEOPLE, ::love:: OF THE PEOPLE,  ::love::  [/size] BY THE PEOPLE" ::love:: 

yes I do