West Indies cricket has been repeatedly shaken over the past 15 years by confusion, controversy and chaos. There has been constant squabbling between the board, the WICB, and the players union, the WIPA, over a variety of issues. The disharmony has led to two strikes by the leading players. Others have been averted only through political intervention.

As a consequence, the team sunk lower and lower on the International Cricket Council Test and ODI rankings until reaching its present state, above only Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.