Boycott: ‘WI victory will inspire a generation’

Geoffrey Boycott, the former Yorkshire and England opening batsman, has called the West Indies winning the World Twenty20 title “a wonderful thing for international cricket”.

The Caribbean side defeated hosts Sri Lanka by 36 runs in a nail-biter during last weekend’s final in Colombo. It was their first piece of silverware since capturing the Champions Trophy in 2004 and their biggest tournament success since lifting the World Cup in 1979.

“I think we were all pleased for cricket that a side like the West Indies won,” said Boycott, who played 29 Tests and scored five centuries against the West Indies between 1964 and 1981.

“West Indies cricket needed a boost and it’s got it. If the result gets kids playing more cricket, because they see the West Indies as world champions of Twenty20 cricket, then that’s great.”

Boycott, sometimes a polarising figure in the sport, said the most important thing for the institution of West Indies cricket was to inspire future generations, thus ensuring a lasting legacy for a region already steeped in tradition.

“We should never be picky about what type of cricket is played,” he said.

“I played Test cricket mainly but I’m not one of those who think that cricket is just about Tests. In my opinion, if the youngsters of the West Indies see T20 and 50-over cricket as the cricket that they want to play in the future rather than Tests, in some ways it’s a little bit sad but in another way, who cares.

“Above all, we want youngsters to start playing cricket. We want to see them enjoying the game, playing it, loving it, just like we used to as kids.”

Boycott, now a respected commentator and analyst, said young West Indian players now had heroes of their own which they could look up to and emulate.

“They’ve seen West Indies win and they can rightly now say: West Indies are champions of the world in T20. They’re the best. That’s what matters,” he said.

“And now, these West Indian kids, all over the islands, they’ve got heroes they can look up to. They’ve got heroes they can emulate. They’ve got enough people to look out for, to like and to look up to. That’s what it’s all about. They just want heroes.” (AH)