Devon Malcolm believes cricket chiefs should have done more to get kids of West Indian heritage into the sport.
Malcolm, who played 40 Tests for England and is of Jamaican descent, is saddened to see so few of England's Caribbean communities playing cricket.
But while he thinks the England and Wales Cricket Board should have acted sooner, he doesn't think it is too late to inspire more children to take up the game.
"The key is to get more cricket into state schools," he said.
"I've worked with the ECB's Chance to Shine project trying to do just that, but more can always be done.
"There is a concern there that Caribbean communities aren't playing cricket. It's dropped off quite a bit. We've got (Hampshire's) Michael Carberry, but not much more.
"You need fathers to take their children out and show them the game but the problem is that we are talking about second or third generation West Indians and the interest is waning."
During the 70s and 80s, Malcolm's childhood, the West Indian cricket team were the best in the world, an era of dominance which is illustrated in the film Fire in Babylon, released on DVD on June 6.
The West Indian fast-bowling quartet of Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Colin Croft and Joel Garner prompted Malcolm to try to bowl fast but such inspiration isn't coming from the current side, ranked 7th in the Test rankings.
"It certainly doesn't help that the current West Indian team aren't the best," said Malcolm.
"Gone are the days when someone like me would sit down with my father and grandfather and watch a great West Indian team. I always wanted to play for England but those teams in the 70s and 80s were my greatest influence.
"This is why Fire in Babylon is important, to show kids what real fast bowling is about and to get them out there trying it themselves."
Fire In Babylon is available on DVD & Blu-ray, June 6th on www.amazon.co.uk
