West Indies’ 27 all out: WI legend Brian Lara questions IPL's role in test decline

The West Indies cricket team hit a new low during the third Test against Australia in Kingston, as they were bowled out for just 27 runs in their second innings – the second-lowest total in Test history. In a nightmarish Pink Ball Test at Sabina Park, Mitchell Starc claimed six wickets while Scott Boland delivered a hat-trick, sealing a 176-run victory for Australia and a 3–0 whitewash in the Frank Worrell Trophy series.

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Lara slams franchise first culture

Reacting to the embarrassing defeat, West Indies legend Brian Lara took a subtle dig at the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other T20 franchise leagues. On the ‘Stick To Cricket’ podcast, Lara lamented the shift in player priorities, saying national duties have become stepping stones for lucrative T20 contracts.

“We played first-class cricket and even county cricket to earn a place in the West Indies team,” Lara said. “Now, the team is being used as a stage to get franchise contracts. And that’s not even the players’ fault.”

Lloyd blames India, England and Australia for imbalance

Former England cricketer David Lloyd echoed Lara’s frustration, blaming the financial dominance of cricket’s ‘Big Three’. “England, Australia, India of taking all the money. There has to be a more even distribution so teams like West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka can compete,” Lloyd argued.

Calls for accountability within Cricket West Indies

Meanwhile, former West Indies skipper Carl Hooper demanded accountability from the board. “Some heads need to roll,” he said on ABC Cricket, criticizing recent drastic structural changes.

As West Indies cricket faces yet another setback, concerns over the growing influence of T20 leagues and unequal resource distribution are back in the spotlight. For the team to bounce back, both structural reform and renewed commitment to red-ball cricket seem essential.