Michael Clarke wants West Indies to prioritize international cricket
Formerly Australian skipper Michael Clarke has joined a host of other former international players in expressing his displeasure over the state of affairs of the West Indies cricket board and also spoke about maintaining priority to international cricket, rather than T20 leagues.
The World Cup winning captain strongly suggested that cricketers should prioritize playing for their nation, rather than lucrative Twenty-20 leagues around the world. He also went to state that Test cricket remained top priority.
Clarke cited a few examples of Windies players who were busy playing in Big Bash League, when West Indies are enduring a tough Test series against the world champions.
“The players that are here playing in the BBL I think it's really disappointing they're not part of the West Indies Test team. There's a number of players in Australia who would be in their No.1 picked Test team,” he told Sydney Morning Herald.
The 34-year old was disappointed with players choosing club over country and seeked the intervention of ICC and the troubled West Indies cricket board, to enforce rules regarding the same.
"I think it's disappointing for the game and Test match cricket. I'd like to see that changed. That will come down to the ICC and West Indies Cricket Board trying to get together to make it work.”
Irrespective of the increasing number of Twenty-20 leagues around the world, which has been, no doubt popularising the game, Clarke stressed about prioritizing international cricket, and maintained Test cricket was the ultimate form of the game.
"I think international cricket has to be the priority, T20 tournaments are important and fantastic to watch but I think there's nothing more special than representing your country. I've always been a believer Test cricket is the pinnacle but we need the best players playing as well,” he remarked.
The accomplished cricketer, who has plenty of records to his name, retired from Test cricket, a few months ago. Before that, he had also bid adieu to ODIs after leading Australia to a fifth World Cup title in March, at home.
However, ‘Pup’ suggested a kind of opportunity for players where they get to represent both the country and their respective clubs, without much conflict of interest.
“T20 or one-day cricket is great and there's room for all three formats but it's called a test. It's what you do in the shorter forms over five days. If we present an opportunity to another country where their best players can play in both Test cricket and also play in the IPL and BBL, I'm confident it can work,” he concluded.