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| April 10, 2007 | Tuesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 21, 1428 |
Croft bowls bouncer at Lloyd and company
GEORGETOWN, April 9: Former fast bowling great Colin Croft took a swipe at West Indies’ cricket top brass on Monday, saying he blames the team's woeful World Cup performance on the management, including boss Clive Lloyd.
The hosts face South Africa in a must-win Super Eights match in Grenada on Tuesday where a defeat will virtually eliminate them from the World Cup.
Since their all-win record in the group stage, the West Indies have lost to Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka – defeats which have left Caribbean fans fuming.
“I put the entire blame of the West Indies players not seeming to care on the team management, including Lloyd, the present manager and the rest of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB),” Croft wrote in the Guyana Chronicle.
“West Indies players have managed to get miles ahead of the WICB and the people put in charge,” added Croft, who played 27 Tests and 19 One-day Internationals for the West Indies, mostly under Lloyd as captain.
The organisers, already criticised for lack of crowds and high ticket prices, fear worse attendance and lack of interest should Brian Lara's men go out of the tournament.
Croft said the attitude of the players was unacceptable.
“Even before that fatal game against Sri Lanka, the West Indies' practice session was something to behold, or perhaps not to. It was lacklustre as ever, with players even complaining that the sun was hot.”
“Are these people for real? This is cricket, right.”
Croft said management hiccups have led to poor performances and off-field problems in the past.
“This has happened in the past, so, unfortunately, this is not unprecedented....remember the debacle in South Africa in 1998 when Lloyd was the manager,” said Croft of the tour when the West Indies were beaten 5-0 in Tests and 6-1 in one-day series.
The tour was also hit by players' demands for more money which put the tour in doubt. It only took place after the WICB president flew to London and settled the matter.
Croft thanked Bangladesh for upsetting South Africa in the Super Eights.
Bangladesh beat South Africa by 67 runs on Saturday, to throw open the race for the semi-finals with all but Ireland in the hunt. It also threw a lifeline to the struggling hosts who can now sneak through the back door.
“Several scenarios could now be unfolding. South Africa can lose all their remaining games, to go home, complaining as they always do, when they lose. It is never their team's fault.
“All conquering Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka are almost certain.
Delicious, wonderful cricket, cricket with enthusiasm is still in the offing,” enthused Croft.—AFP
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