Sobers and Lara and the Declining periods of West Indies Cricket

In 1971, a competent but far from strong Indian team with a couple of young batsmen who were to shine over the next decade and a half visited the West Indies.The West Indies were led by Sobers, the greatest allrounder the game has produced. The team also included Gibbs and Kanhai, two great players past their prime but still competent warhorses.India won the series but the decline of the West Indies was evident. Sobers shared the new ball on several occaisons with players like Shillingford and Holder.
The next year, the West Indies blooded Kallicharan and Lawrence Rowe. Roberts, Greenidge Richards arrived within the next few years and with Fredericks and LLoyd from the earlier generation the West Indies were a formidable side defeating India in a closely fought series and going on to win the first World Cup. However they were given a pasting by the Australians in 1975-76, of a kind that has now become routine.
The sight of Lara carrying gamely at 36, amidst the mediocrity all round him reminds me of Sobers in the early seventies.But it is also clear that the future of the West Indies cricket depends on players who still have to find their moorings at test level.For a team where Wayne Daniel often found himself on the bench, the fast bowling options look weak. Chances of a Valentine or a Ramadhin appearing also look bleak.For the sake of Cricket in the Americas,it is imperative that the West Indies focus on youngsters who can deliver or they will soon be in the company of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.But they will have to look beyond Chanderpaul and Lara. Lara will keep scoring and perhaps repeat Sobers's innings versus Australia for the Rest of the World in the Super test but for the drubbings to end they need to unearth players of quality. May be Jermaine Lawson's bowling style could be corrected and Sarwan becomes more consistent .
From the rut that the West Indies have entered may they come out and shine on the world stage.