CWI at its inept best. The CWI issued a release naming a team to represent the West Indies in an upcoming series and it was good to see some faces whom have been performing reasonably in the last two or three regional competitions.
As usual reserves had to be called in very early since a couple players have already withdrawn for one reason or another. This is where the fun starts. Two replacements were called in and the Chairman of selectors indicated that the CWI was investing in youth.
So Kjorn Ottley and Shamar Brooks were included and as luck would have it Daren Bravo was not. Personally, I like to see Bravo bat when he is at his best, but no one knows when that will be.
However, the reasoning given for him not being included takes the cake since the reserve players are 32 and 33 and have not performed better than Bravo (34) in the last couple tournaments.
Chase (32) was also included and he has proven to be a very good regional player with no hope of improving. I blame the regional boards for this and would like to emphasise that all players in their late 20s and early 30s who cannot make the West Indies team should not play for the regional teams.
We are deliberately stifling the younger players who turn to baseball to try to make a living and reverting to cricket four years down the road when a Windies cap is no longer on the plate for him.
Brooks, Chase, Gabriel, Mohammed, Warrican, Blackwood, Cornwall and numerous others who are making up numbers just for a payday (in some cases to finish their house). Invest in the youths in the proper manner with a good academy, proper training facilities, proper coaches (not coaches from clubs which have the most players on a certain regional team), proper management, proper medical staff. The list can go on and on.
Players should also be exposed and be able to understand the technology available to them which can assist in improving their game. At present some batters just walk in and swing the bat and because we have some strong players we do hit some sixes but we cannot roll our wrists for a single or twos.
Our fast bowlers just run up and bowl. Seldom will you see the fast bowlers asking a field which produces a wicket. At present the only thinking players on the team are the spin bowlers. If the regional bodies cannot see the steady decline then we are in dire straits.
Hopefully this shallow board will be removed and personnel with deep roots in cricket and foresight can turn around our cricket. If we cannot pick the right players we can never win.
I think we need another Sanford who brought out the best in our players and the IPL is now using that strategy for their own players. Help.
Larry Sooklalsingh