'West Indies are struggling...we haven't hit rock bottom yet'

Roland Butcher discusses the 'madness' of the selection structure and why he had to give up on football coaching

- Simon Burnton

After West Indies secured a one-day series draw against Ireland on Sunday, their captain, Shai Hope, was asked about the team's imminent visit to England. "We played them at the end of last year and we won that series so we know they're going to be coming at us even harder this time," he said. "We're looking forward to it. We know they're going to be a tough, tough opponent but we're always ready to play anyone."

Roland Butcher, child of Barbados, once of England and more recently a West Indies selector, has a less optimistic outlook: "We're struggling, and the struggle is not over. We haven't hit rock bottom yet." The concentration of power across all three formats in the hands of one coach and selector - Daren Sammy - is what Butcher fears "is going to finally push us to the bottom".

Butcher's knowledge of Caribbean cricket is broad and deep, with 15 years as head coach of the University of the West Indies sports academy, one serving on the national team's selection panel alongside another familiar name in Desmond Haynes, and many commentating on matches around the region. He was appointed as a selector in December 2022 but dismissed a year later, with full control of the team eventually handed to Sammy, who picks and also coaches the senior side across all formats as of April this year.

"In Desmond and myself you've got over 100 years of experience at the highest level, still capable, still wanting to contribute," Butcher says. "I've moved on and Desmond has moved on as well, but we've got this knowledge, we want to help and they're struggling.