Trouble in West Indies camp

There is trouble brewing in the West Indies camp in New Zealand, following the disappointing performances in the recently concluded test series against New Zealand, which was lost 0-2. 
The T&T Guardian understands that several team meetings were held after the second Test debacle, where the West Indies batting succumbed easily and the West Indies lost inside of three days. At these meetings with coach Ottis Gibson and several other officials on the tour, a number of players were asked to openly give their feelings and thoughts. “Some of the players, particularly the batsmen were questioning the fact that the West Indies bowlers line and length were different to the New Zealand swing bowlers and this needed to be adjusted ahead of the third Test. It was felt that nothing was done by the coach to make the transformation by the bowlers. After the batsmen saw how badly the bowlers performed when New Zealand batted, it was a complete let down and it resulted in the gutless batting performance in the second innings.”

The source noted that a number of the bowlers were not happy with the comments and especially the captain Darren Sammy, who was in a fighting mood and matters escalated in the nets with a player being hit by a delivery thrown by Sammy. “There was close to a real confrontation and it was only when better sense prevailed that matters were kept down, but the mood in the camp deteriorated,” he added. “Several of the players were disappointed that Gibson and the other two selectors on the tour, Clyde Butts and Robert Haynes, did not intervene and resolve the matter but instead tried to play as if it never occurred. It was really bad. Sammy said he is the West Indies captain and there was nothing anybody could do him,” added the source. Several persons close to the player have already contacted the West Indies Cricket Board which has requested a written report from all of the parties, including the two West Indies selectors. Haynes is the one due to send the report to the WICB.

Sources say the players are trying to minimise the damage done by the incident, even though a player was injured by what looked like a beamer and had to receive medical attention. Former West Indies Players Association ( Wipa) president, Dinanath Ramnarine, has also been contacted by family of the player who was injured, and he has promised to contact Wipa president Wavell Hinds and have the matter raised at the highest level .“It is expected that there may be a further fallout within the team when Dwayne Bravo takes over as he is not known to stand for this sort of behaviour. It is a pity that it has reached this stage, and now that Marlon Samuels has left after what happened with Shillingford being banned, it is getting worse.” The West Indies and New Zealand went into action in the first One-Dayer last night (today T&T time.)