Dear BCA board,
I am writing you to express heartfelt gratitude at my inclusion for today’s regional cricket encounter against Jamaica.
But to be honest, I’m not sure why I truly have to send this letter in the first place.
You banned me for the second-round game against England Lions and I fully understand the circumstances, as my one-match suspension was merited.
I sincerely apologised for my actions repeatedly and even went as far as to declare my wrongdoing in the media.
Since then, I have been the model sportsman and been on my best behaviour, exhibiting the values that make Barbados cricket the pillar of success across the Caribbean.
So you could understand my initial shock when I learnt of my omission from the initial 13-man squad, having done nothing to warrant further disciplinary action.
It would be like penalizing me for speeding and then increasing that fine after I have kept well within the speed limits.
However, let’s not focus on that, because I am mailing you to show my sincere appreciation for including me for today’s match at Kensington Oval.
Although, to be fair, I don’t quite comprehend the reason I was left out to begin with.
I mean, you served me with a one-match ban on disciplinary grounds, only for the selection panel to argue that this latest omission was solely “based on cricketing reasons”.
It’s not exactly certain what those cricketing reasons entail, but they can’t be the ones related to the game played on the pitch.
Not when I was one of your best performers in the only match I played.
Not when my first innings’ 31 actually outstripped the contribution of three of our top eight batsmen, including Dale and Kyle.
Not when I led the attack with three scalps, including the dangerous Runako Morton.
I would’ve had more, too, had not for wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich dropping Denesh Ramdin at a crucial stage.
And for “cricketing reasons”, I think I am needed more than ever before considering that we are already 12 points adrift of early leaders Jamaica, England and Trinidad.
This is solely because our bowling has failed to defend successive big totals of 395 and 471.
So, wouldn’t it be wise to bring me back to join Fidel and Pedro so we can actually get 20 wickets in this game?
I hear that’s how teams win matches, but I could be wrong.
Anyhow, we won’t get into that, because I’m demonstrating how truly thankful I am to you for this opportunity to make the squad against Jamaica.
Truthfully though, I am not sure I shouldn’t have been in the side against England Lions, looking back at it.
Yes, I was genuinely out of line for disrespecting the trainer but it’s not as if I’ve been one to ever shirk doing drills.
Fitness has never been my pitfall, and I readily lead the guys in on-field routines, so there must’ve been method to my madness.
I know I probably should’ve handled it differently but I’m a Bajan male already known for my exuberance.
You didn’t exactly expect me to say “pardon me, but I am not quite in agreement with what we are doing here,” now did you?
Still, I am clearly at fault, so let me continue showing my gratitude for overturning the selectors’ decision to omit me from the squad for today’s match.
But I must admit that I’m still hurt that it looks as though it took a letter from dear Uncle Ralph for you to reach this position after all the aforementioned proceedings.
I thought it was clear to all this was just a one-match ban due to disciplinary reasons, so to have your honorary secretary repeat that in a public letter seems a bit confusing.
And to think about it, I too, am confused about the reason I am expressing heartfelt thanks, but let me continue to do it anyway.
Because if I don’t, I won’t have anything else to do as 14th man.
Yours truly,
Tino Best.P.S. I know it seems impossible, but I would be even further grateful if you could see to it that I made the final 11.
Justin Marville is a NATION sports reporter.