THE SELECTION of Barbados cricket teams, like those of the West Indies, always generate heated debate on the street, in bars and call-in programmes.
The original West Indies World Cup team, followed by the choice of replacement players and the decision of the George Linton-chaired Barbados selection panel to expose younger players at the expense of others in their mid-20s have been major talking points.
In the regional four-day competition, Barbados are languishing in seventh position with 12 points, ahead of only the Leeward Islands, after failing to gain first innings points in any of their four matches so far.
The West Indies, after two impressive wins against lightweights Netherlands and Bangladesh and an embarrassing defeat versus the heavyweight “chokers” South Africa, played their fourth World Cup match earlier today against Ireland.
After opting not to play Dwayne Smith, a 27-year-old cricketer with seven first-class centuries and 124 wickets in 81 matches, the Barbados selectors omitted the experienced 34-year-old opener Dale Richards – a decision that could mark the end of his first-class career.
In 52 matches, Richards made 3 267 runs at an average of 36.30, and it is a pity that he only converted four of his 27 scores over 50 runs into centuries.
Perhaps the time has come to allow cricketers who have been overlooked by their national selectors, like Smith and Kenroy Williams – who really should be in the Barbados side – to represent other territories for the long-term betterment of West Indies cricket.
This is the case in state, grade and county cricket in places like South Africa, Australia and England.
There are many cricketers in Jamaica and Trinidad who may not make their national side but would be an asset to let’s say, the Leewards, Guyana or even the Windwards.
I believe the best available cricketers in the Caribbean should be the ones playing first-class cricket, and not necessarily the youngest or those in the High Performance Centre.
But Richards’ exclusion comes less than a year after he was given a raw deal by the West Indies selectors after fairly good performances when called up for the final four One-Day Internationals against South Africa last year.
Against one of the best bowling attacks in world cricket, Richards had scores of 51, 28, 59 and 19 – 157 runs at an average of 39.25.
Yet, after – or so it seemed – showing himself to be the ideal partner for Chris Gayle, he was surprisingly not even named in the 30-man provisional list.
Remarks to the effect that “there were not centuries” – made by West Indies selector Courtney Browne when the question was posed by yours truly as to why Richards was overlooked for the World Cup team – were totally unacceptable.
The man chosen to partner Gayle, Devon Smith, now seems to be making the most of his latest opportunity. However, before the World Cup he had just three 50s in his previous 32 ODIs, at an average of 24.32.
I couldn’t fathom why the selectors would have used Smith’s solid “A” team performances against weaker opposition as a yardstick to justify his inclusion ahead of Richards, who had shown his mettle against quality bowling in his last four ODI innings.
The recall of Tino Best to the Barbados side is most welcome as he should never have been dropped in the first place. He must now try to repeat his match-winning second innings five for 41 against the Windwards last year.
It’s also time for a four-pronged pace attack, with Best, Fidel Edwards, Pedro Collins and Jason Holder – and one only hopes the ground staff at Kensington Oval know how to prepare a fast pitch.
While discipline is essential to success, there are far too many instances in Barbados and West Indies cricket where the authorities are inconsistent with regards to certain players – the same yardstick is not used for everyone.
We have a couple of examples regarding the current West Indies World Cup team.
Best’s behaviour has been the subject of much debate in recent times and it is unfortunate that recent well documented incidents have impacted so negatively on a whole-hearted cricketer who loves playing for Barbados and West Indies. He must tread carefully from here on and be on his best behaviour at all times.
Barbados’ captain Ryan Hinds – who must make a better effort to control his emotions – should have been selected in the West Indies World Cup team, based on his performance, if nothing else, during the 50-over One-Day Tournament in Jamaica last year.
Recently, under the chairmanship of Clyde Butts and since Ottis Gibson became head coach, I’ve noticed that a number of players whose returns are simply average, have been gaining selection on the West Indies team.
Every now and then, “a diamond in the rough” will be selected, but playing for the West Indies must be seen as the pinnacle for a player, and a series of superlative performances should be mandatory for elevation to the highest level. It is no wonder that ordinary performers at the regional level are not making the grade in the international arena.
Even before the team was selected and prior to the three ODIs in Sri Lanka which preceded the World Cup, I felt that Best, with his extra pace would have been the ideal choice to partner Kemar Roach in the absence of Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor.
I had already made it clear that Ravi Rampaul, whose returns in the series versus South Africa were below-par, should’ve been omitted as I couldn’t see him making an impact on such pitches.
The selection of rookie Andre Russell was not one I was totally against, from the standpoint that coaches are allowed some leeway and statistics should not be the only gauge. But lest we forget, he had a six-wicket haul versus Barbados.
After dismissing commentator Andrew Mason’s assertion at a press conference that a third specialist spinner was needed for the sub-continent conditions, the selectors have made a U-turn by selecting leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo as a replacement for the injured Dwayne Bravo.
Finally, isn’t it odd that CBC brought the Football World Cup matches live daily, an event which did not involve the West Indies, but for the ICC Cricket World Cup, where the West Indies are involved, only their matches are shown on Channel 8?
