- Details
In our latest exclusive interview, West Indies legend Carl Hooper delivers a powerful critique of Caribbean cricket's decline. The iconic all-rounder reveals why Test cricket is dying in the region, exposes systemic failures, and shares explosive insights on franchise cricket's impact.
By Saj Sadiq (6th July 2025)
Key topics covered:
- Hooper's Current Involvement with West Indies Cricket: Hooper shares that he has been actively involved with West Indies cricket, including a coaching stint for the qualifiers in Zimbabwe and a subsequent series against India.
- Life in Adelaide & Adelaide Strikers: He mentions that he resides in Adelaide, Australia, and has been associated with the Adelaide Strikers for the past three years.
- Commentary Work: Hooper discusses his commentary role with ABC radio, where he covers both Test and T20 matches.
- Memories of Playing with West Indies Legends: Hooper reminisces about playing alongside legendary West Indian cricketers like Viv Richards, Desmond Haynes, Courtney Walsh, Patrick Patterson, and Brian Lara during the dominant West Indian era of the late 80s and early 90s.
- Hope for West Indies Cricket: He expresses hope for a turnaround in West Indies cricket, noting that it has been nearly 30 years since they lost the Frank Worrell Trophy to Australia in 1993.
- Toughest Opponents - Exploiting Home Conditions: Hooper identifies bowlers who effectively exploited their home conditions as his toughest opponents.
- Wasim Akram & Challenges in Pakistan: He specifically names Wasim Akram, highlighting the difficulties of touring Pakistan due to challenging conditions and the presence of local umpires.
- Other World-Class Bowlers: Hooper also lists Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Muttiah Muralitharan as other world-class bowlers he faced.
- Philosophy for Playing in Pakistan - Guyanese Wickets: He attributes his good record in Pakistan to growing up on lower-bouncing wickets in Guyana, which prepared him for the fuller length bowling of Pakistani pacers and the prevalence of spin.
- Suited to Pakistani Conditions: He explains that his strong front-foot game and ability to play spin were well-suited to the conditions in Pakistan.
- Standout Innings - Lahore 127: Hooper considers his 127-run innings in Lahore, Pakistan, as his best ever.
- Challenging Conditions of the Lahore Innings: He describes the difficult conditions during that innings, including a chewed-up ball that swung late and fast, and the challenge of facing bowlers like Wasim Akram.
- Lack of Patience with Players & West Indies Cricket's Desperation: Hooper believes there's a lack of patience with players today, partly due to the fast-paced world and the desperation for results in West Indies cricket.
- Weak First-Class System: He points out that the first-class system in the Caribbean is not as strong as it used to be, leading to players being ill-prepared for international cricket.
- Limited First-Class Games: He highlights the limited number of first-class games played in the Caribbean compared to other nations.
- Decline of West Indies and Pakistan in Test Cricket: Hooper expresses sadness about the struggles of the West Indies team in Test cricket, noting that both West Indies and Pakistan, once dominant forces, are now low in rankings.
- Lack of Competitiveness Against Australia: He laments the West Indies' lack of competitive showing against Australia.
- Loss of County Cricket Opportunity: He points out that unlike in the past, West Indian players no longer have the opportunity to hone their skills by playing county cricket in England.
- Nicholas Pooran's Retirement & Modern Cricket Landscape: Hooper expresses disappointment but understands Nicholas Pooran's decision to retire from international cricket at 29, attributing it to the evolving landscape of modern cricket and the lucrative opportunities in franchise leagues like the IPL.
- Financial Incentives of Franchise Cricket: He suggests that the financial incentives of franchise cricket make it difficult for players to prioritize international commitments.
- Love for Test Cricket: Despite the rise of T20, Hooper remains a purist and expresses his deep love for Test cricket, calling it the "real test of your skill."
- Test Cricket's Challenge: He appreciates how Test matches challenge every aspect of a player's game over five days.
- Growing Gap Between Top Teams: Hooper expresses concern about the widening gap between top teams like India, Australia, and England, and other Test-playing nations.
- Importance of Strong Test Nations: He emphasizes the importance of having strong, vibrant Test-playing nations for the overall health of Test cricket.
- Making West Indies Cricket Great Again - Rebuilding Foundation: Hooper suggests that the solution to West Indies cricket's struggles lies in rebuilding its foundation.
- Strong School & Club Programs in His Youth: He recalls the strong school and club programs during his youth in Guyana, which were instrumental in identifying and developing talent.
- Non-Existent Programs & Loss of Talent: He notes that these crucial programs are now non-existent, leading to a significant loss of young talent.
- Poor Quality of Wickets: He highlights the poor quality of wickets, even at first-class and Test levels, as a significant issue.
- Bottom-Up Approach for West Indies Cricket: Hooper believes that fixing the problem requires a bottom-up approach, starting with strong school programs and better playing surfaces.
Watch the full interview:
