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West Indies fear they could land in the lower half of any split World Test Championship. On current points tables, they sit eighth from nine and have already lost three Tests to Australia in this cycle. The prospect of a second division worries past greats and administrators alike.
“We are just two years out of being in that group [the lower tier] for 100 years,” warns Lloyd.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief executive Chris Dehring said the board is watching developments closely. Addressing reporters after an emergency meeting in Trinidad – called days after the side were bundled out for 27 at Sabina Park – he outlined the immediate plan.
“All of that we have a role to play [in], we have a seat at the table at the ICC,” Dehring told the media. “We have to just stay abreast as close as possible to all the changes that could happen, position ourselves, hedging our bets so to speak, to make sure we are in there as West Indies cricket no matter which way the wind blows and try to take advantage of it.”
The International Cricket Council has asked a working group, chaired by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose, to examine possible tweaks to the championship from 2025-27. A two-tier structure – promotion and relegation, like county football – is high on its agenda. Full Members have debated the model on and off since 2009, rarely agreeing on how it might work or who might miss out on marquee series.
Money, as usual, colours the debate. Lloyd, joined by Brian Lara, Viv Richards and other icons at the Trinidad meeting, argued that West Indies deserve more than their current slice of ICC revenue.
“We have to look at what’s happening at the ICC with the shareout of the money. India, Australia and England get 180 million and West Indies will get 80 million like Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and we are just two years out of being in that group for 100 years,” Lloyd said. “To me, it’s not right. We have to stand up. We have to go to the ICC and ask for special dispensation. Because when we were in the ascendancy, and we were playing so well, everyone wanted to play with us.
“We were playing Australia very often, with England very often, and when we went to Pakistan or India, getting millions of people [to the grounds]. We need to get a better share of the pie, because we were the cash cows for a long time. And we need to get some of that. I am hoping the board follows up on that recommendation where we can be adequately given the money that is needed.”
Fast bowling still shines
Even during a lean Test run, West Indies pace has offered light. Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph have kept them competitive in bursts, but collapses – highlighted by the 27-all-out embarrassment – continue to undo the hard work. One official quipped that the innings lasted “barely long enough for two overs of the lunchtime rush”.
Sammy starts with a jolt
Daren Sammy’s first assignment as Test coach, after two T20 World Cup triumphs as a player-captain, could hardly have been tougher: away to Australia, resulting in a 3-0 defeat. The former all-rounder speaks of “small steps” yet knows the scoreline leaves little margin.
Analysis – hedging bets remains tricky
From a cricketing perspective, the immediate issue is winning matches to climb the ranking ladder. Administratively, CWI must convince other boards that West Indies cricket brings value well beyond nostalgia. A two-tier championship, if adopted, would almost certainly offer a pathway back to the top flight, but the gap in broadcast income between divisions could widen existing financial strains.
Twose’s panel is expected to deliver recommendations early next year. Even if promotion and relegation is approved, precise criteria – two-year or four-year cycles, weighted points, neutral venues – remain open. CWI, through its directors, will argue for a system that guards historic rivalries and compensates smaller boards fairly.
For now, players return to regional cricket, coaches sift through video of the Sabina slide, and administrators keep informal conversations with fellow ICC members ticking over. No-one inside the camp claims instant answers. Yet, as one senior selector muttered between sessions, “better to be in the room when the map is drawn than staring at it from outside”.
