There’s a saying that you should use what you have to get what you need.
This advice is appropriate for those in charge of the senior West Indies cricket team.
There were no major conquests from a team perspective this year and probably won’t be any next year, but I think coach Ottis Gibson and company are starting to build a unit that can become potent very soon.
It seems that they have to proceed at pace without the likes of senior players Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo for the time being.
Gayle has unresolved issues with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and once he remains adamant about not apologizing for whatever indiscretions he has been accused of, it is clear he will not be considered for selection to any of the squads.
The board is backing the coach on this one.
It would appear that there are fitness concerns with Sarwan even from the standpoint of the Guyana Cricket Board and by extension the West Indies Cricket Board. He was recently not considered for next year’s regional T20 because of those concerns.
His sterling defence about his fitness has failed to move the Guyanese authorities.
Bravo, injuries notwithstanding, seems to be undecided about whom he should pledge his loyalties.
Royalties seem to be playing on his mind, and like Gayle, appears to be more comfortable at this time competing in the major T20 tournaments in India and Australia.
I think he appreciates that he can’t always have the best of both worlds even though the WICB did allow him to skip a test series this year to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
If we are reading Gibson’s mindset correctly, he is going with players who are prepared to show commitment to West Indies cricket first and foremost.
Truth be told, he has had to play without them for the latter part of the year because life has to go on.
Their presence would be needed in this yet another critical period in West Indies cricket in helping to guide the youth but the coach is not prepared to wait forever for anyone to fall in line.
I have said before I think Gibson should take some of the blame for the fall-out with some of the senior players after the World Cup because he went public and said they didn’t pull their weight and even though he didn’t call any names there was a clear perception of who he meant.
Chanderpaul has since made his peace and is still making an able contribution to the team.
Every individual is different and as Bob Marley sang every man has the right to decide his own destiny.
It is in this context that Gibson has to work with who he has at his disposal. For better or for worse.
A player of Gayle’s quality would be missed at the top of the order for now, but I am sure there’s been some gratification in the steps made by rookies Kraigg Brathwaite and Keiran Powell on the sub-continent.
The more they get a chance to play at the highest level, the more they’re likely to improve and the less likelihood of missing Gayle at the top. I think this is what the selectors are hoping for anyway.
They must also be hoping and praying that the talented but injury-prone Adrian Barath gets over his problems.
In Sarwan’s absence Kirk Edwards has emerged as a very solid middle order batsman, capable of playing long innings and making significant scores. Even if Sarwan regains full fitness and becomes an option for selection, I think it will be hard to displace Edwards.
Darren Bravo, on the evidence in India in particular, is showing signs that he could be on the threshold of transforming promise and potential into big runs and possibly greatness.
I believe that role of finding a dependable allrounder can be filled by Andre Russell if given the chance to show his worth in the longer and more testing form of the game.
I think that Dwayne Smith still has what it takes to fill this void and the fact that he’s back in the West Indies line-up means that those in charge of team selection think so too.
Ravi Rampaul, Fidel Edwards and a fit Kemar Roach have the firepower to make it uncomfortable for leading international batsmen and the spinners, led by Bishoo, are continuing to develop while Suleimann Benn remains in the cold for reasons rumoured but not confirmed by those in charge.
In essence, Gibson has a nucleus to work with and build the ideal team around but I am prepared to wait and see if he gets the tapestry in place.
Consistency, yes, is key, but the ability of the bowlers to finish the job when they have opponents under pressure is also paramount. The tour of the sub-continent proved that.
Very stern tests of the Gibson model will come into play next year when we compete against Australia and New Zealand in the Caribbean and against the old colonial masters in England.
By the end of the year I will be able to make another assessment of where we are as we strive to be respected as an international force again.
I am hopeful, as always, that we will make some steps forward.
Andi Thornhill is an award-winning journalist and former sports editor of CBC.
