Shoddy facilities key to West Indies decline, says Brendan Nash

Melbourne, December 18 - Former West Indies vice-captain Brendan Nash believes the poor standard of cricket facilities in the Caribbean has played a role in the decline of the game in the region.

The Australian-born left-hander, who played 21 Tests between 2008 and 2011 after qualifying to represent the West Indies through his father, who is Jamaican, said the quality of the facilities at all levels had fallen off, and this had directly impacted on development, reports CMC.

"A lot of money was spent on the 2007 World Cup to increase the standard of facilities," Nash said on Thursday.

"I know when I was there towards the end of 2010, the facilities really dropped off. So within four years, they just didn't have the money to keep it going or it wasn't run correctly."

"It starts with the facilities, because training facilities are poor. Even club matches, facilities are terrible. I can't see it getting better any time soon, unfortunately," he added.

Much of the decline in the West Indies cricket has also been attributed to the breakdown in the relationship between the West Indies Cricket Board and the players, and Nash said this appeared to be the case.

"I've been out of it for two or three years, but from an outsider looking in, there is just no trust between either party," he said.

The 38-year-old ended his association with English County Kent last August, following a productive four-year stint with the club.

And he said he was still available for international duty if the West Indies required his services.

"I'm still available. I'd like to think I can still move around the field quite well, and I've been playing county cricket, which has its challenges over there, and done pretty well in the last four seasons."

He added: "They (West Indies) still need that mix of experience and youth, but they need the right kind of experienced players."

Nash averaged 33, with two centuries and eight half-centuries, during his brief Test career.

Agency