Pretoria – West Indian chairman of selectors Sir Clive Lloyd has called on the ICC to organise longer tours when sides do battle abroad.
The eighth-ranked West Indies take on the number-one Proteas in the first Test starting in Centurion, Pretoria, on Wednesday. Lloyd was honest in assessment that his squad did not have enough preparation for this tour.
“I’ve always wanted two four-day games in the tour,” Lloyd said on Sunday.
“I’ve said that to the West Indies and the ICC. I think one game is not enough.”
The tourists played a three-day game against a South African Invitational side in Benoni, but the final day’s play was rained out on Friday. The hosts had not provided much resistance in the batting department as they were bundled out for 125 in the first innings.
The visitors then came in, and while Marlon Samuels made 203
before he retired, and Devon Smith made 174 before he also retired, the rest of the top six batsmen could only manage 16 runs between them.
The West Indies tour to South Africa features three Tests, two T20 Internationals and five One Day Internationals ending just over two weeks before the Cricket World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand.
“I think we should’ve had at least three games surrounding this Test match. That way if someone is out of form they can go into a four-day game and get back into it. You can’t tell if a player is doing well in the nets.”
Lloyd, 70, had a Test career spanning 19 years for the West Indies, scoring 19 centuries from his 110 matches at an average of 46.67.
With limited overs cricket only coming into the game later in his career, Lloyd believed Test cricket was still the ultimate form of the game.
“Most of the tours are crammed. You’re playing 50 over games, T20s, it’s a lot of cricket and your body can only take so much. That’s why we’re seeing so many injuries.
“Nicely spaced out tours would be best for me.”
With just five players over the age of 30 in their squad, an extended schedule could help provide the selectors with greater insight into their depth said Lloyd.
“It’s also about young players, because you want them to have a game and see what they have. We just jump into a country and then we’re gone.
“You can’t groom players anymore. You want to try out a few youngsters. I’m not saying you have to have 10 games, but just enough that young players will get a chance.” – Sapa