Show us some respect, blasts West Indies chief after being left angry at English ignorance ahead of series
The Englishman charged with leading the renaissance of Caribbean cricket is hoping West Indies' first Test domination will bring them the respect they deserve.
Johnny Grave, chief executive of the West Indies board, was angry at what he saw as English ignorance ahead of this series in expecting Jason Holder's team to provide easy opposition.
Now Grave — the man who carved his reputation as one of the game's best administrators at Surrey and the Professional Cricketers' Association before agreeing to head the latest Caribbean rescue mission — hopes the extraordinary Barbados Test will change opinions.
West Indies are not given enough respect by their rivals, feels chief executive Johnny Grave
The West Indies chief was left angry at what he felt was English ignorance before this series
'There always seems to be a bit of an undertone when people talk about West Indies,' said Grave at his team's Antigua base.
'Our players are trying to live up to some of the greatest names that ever played the game and if people like Geoff Boycott are always going to compare them they are always going to be considered average or ordinary.
'To suggest Kemar Roach, who has taken so many wickets with the injuries he's had, is ordinary? Then you've got Jason Holder, the best all-rounder in the world. People say Ben Stokes is world class but they don't say the same about Jason and I find that inconsistent.
'It's just not right and it's my role as chief executive, especially being English, to say, "Come on, have some respect". I can say to anyone who underestimated us, "Look guys, you've got it wrong. Give these performances the credit they deserve".
'I was particularly upset at the suggestion this wasn't the best West Indies Test side. It was the equivalent of someone in the Caribbean saying, "What on earth have England turned up with? There's no Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen or Graeme Swann". The players missing from our side left Test cricket for T20 years ago.'
England's Sam Curran is stumped as West Indies thrived, going on to take a 1-0 series lead
Grave feels criticism of certain players like Kemar Roach is unfair given his career statistics
Now Grave is hoping West Indies can prove this is no one-off by going on to complete a series win that would mean everything to the people of this proud region.
He added: 'I didn't have a problem with anyone criticising us at Edgbaston in 2017 because it was a woeful performance, a bit like England's here, but when India got bowled out cheaply in England last year that was fine!
'If it happens to West Indies everyone is up in arms saying, "They shouldn't be playing Test cricket, why are they bothering". Everyone else is allowed to have a bad day at the office apart from us.
'We're at the start of a feelgood factor with the Caribbean Premier League having big crowds and record scores. Then we had the women's World Twenty20 when the crowds not only flocked to West Indies games but also neutral ones.
'If the Test team can come to the party there will be a momentum and platform to build on. That would be brilliant.'
Joe Root and his England side were well below par in Barbados as they were easily beaten
Caribbean pride has also been hurt by the decision of Jofra Archer to turn his back on West Indies and throw in his lot with England.
'My opinion is that if you've played in a system up to the age of 19 and you call Barbados your home, you play for Barbados and West Indies,' Grave said. 'For all the money spent in English cricket, where are all the fast bowlers?
'But Jofra has an English father and a British passport and he hasn't broken any rules so he had the option and he's chosen England. We fully respect his decision.'
Caribbean cricket fans are disappointed at Jofra Archer's decision to opt to play for England
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