WI the worst Test team in over 50 years: Boycott

Former England opener-turned-celebrated commentator Geoff Boycott termed the current West Indies team as the worst he has ever seen after their capitulation in the opening Test against England at Edgbaston, where the touring side lost 19 wickets in a day.

“This West Indies lot are the worst Test match team I have seen in more than 50 years of watching, playing and commentating on cricket,” Boycott wrote in Telegraph.

“They can't bat and can't bowl. I get no pleasure out of saying this as I played against some of the greatest players the world has ever seen wearing the maroon cap of the West Indies,” he commented while referring to the appalling decline of the once all-conquering team.

“It is a cricketing tragedy to see the West Indies like this and there is no gloating over them losing. We all want England to win Test matches but we should not be euphoric about this. It is just sad to see a once-proud Test team lower than any I have ever seen before.”

While referring to the first pink-ball Day/Night Test on England soil as a mismatch, he wrote: “This was a Test match in name only and the gulf between these two cricketing countries is as wide as the Grand Canyon.”

The Yorkshireman observed that 'the West Indies bowling lacks pace … they have no spinner, just a batsman in Roston Chase lobbing up wide balls wider and wider of the off stump hoping he does not get clobbered for too many runs. The batting is even worse. They are just young kids with limited techniques trying to take on two of the best seamers in world cricket in conditions that suit them'.

He also lamented that 'there are no experienced players to help and guide these youngsters at difficult moments and there were a lot of difficult moments for this team'.

Boycott, known for his cut-throat approach, wrote: “This series is no preparation for the Ashes whatsoever. Any runs scored or wickets taken do not tell us anything about how these players will cope in Australia. It is probably the worst series we could play before an Ashes tour.”