Hyderabad: Cricket fans will name India, England and Australia if asked about their favourites for the upcoming World Cup. However, the scenario would have been different five to six decades when everyone would have vouched for West Indies in case of being asked about their favourites. This is the story of two-time world champion and two-time T20 champion West Indies, who could not even qualify for the World Cup 2023. This is the worst phase of this team in 5 decades of ODI cricket.
Cricket and West Indies- The first Test on a cricket field was played in 1877. Cricket was born in England. Be it an ODI or Test match, the first match was played between England and Australia. But, West Indies showed the world that the game can be entertaining and exciting as well. In the early 1970s, West Indies brought every team in the world to its knees by displaying sheer domination on the field. Small islands situated between North and South America together form a country named West Indies and these islands provide exciting moments, world-class players and a champion team which made its mark at a global stage.
From pinnacle to rock bottom
West Indies' achievement in the 70's and 80's was impeccable and no team can match what they did during that era. In 1975, West Indies won all five of their games in the inaugural edition and beat Australia in the final to lift the silverware. The Caribbean team continued their legacy in the upcoming edition by winning two trophies in a row and establishing their stature as a dominating force in world cricket.
When ODI cricket commenced in the 70s, West Indies became a force to reckon with in quick time. India won the 1983 World Cup but even in that edition, runner-up West Indies were considered firm favourites. In fact, at that time, the status of the West Indies was such that India's victory was even considered a fluke. The reason for this was the West Indies team which was considered unbeatable in the 70s and 80s and statistics were also pointing in that direction. In the 1975 and 1979 World Cups, the West Indies team did not lose a single match, whereas in 1983 it lost only one to the Indian team. Although the team's dominance continued even after this World Cup, they never managed to get their hands on the trophy in the 50-over format again.
As the 90s approached, Caribbean players from the winning side kept retiring. Further, they never made it to the final of the 50-over World Cup again. Except for the semi-finals of 1996, this team has never been a part of the best four teams of the World Cup and now the situation has come to the worse as they failed to qualify for participation in the marquee event in 2023. Although the West Indies team won the T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016 and the Champions Trophy in 2004 they never managed to regain their old pride when they used to bulldoze oppositions.