THERE ARE no issues surrounding the exclusion of Tino Best and Ryan Hinds in the West Indies’ World Cup cricket team, says chairman of the selectors Clyde Butts.
He made that very clear at a press conference at Kensington Oval on Wednesday following the announcement of the West Indies’ 15-member squad for the 50-over tournament in India,
Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh from February 19 to April 2.
“No, we don’t have any issues with them. We actually had a very long meeting with Ryan Hinds in Jamaica and it was a very good meeting,” Butts said, noting that West Indies coach Ottis Gibson, selector Courtney Browne and he met with the Barbados captain.
“We sorted out most of the stuff that we thought were bothering us. Ryan Hinds was very co-operative in the meeting.”
Hinds has not played a One-Day International in six years after making the starting XI of the West Indies team which won the 2004 Champions Trophy in England, but Butts said his batting, at the moment, hasn’t been impressive.
“To be fair, when you look at Ryan Hinds, we all thought that he did well in Jamaica in terms of the regional one-day tournament but can you tell me if he should be selected as a left-arm spinner or a batsman?” asked Butts.
“When you look at the team and your combinations, we’ve got two left-arm spinners – Sulieman Benn and Nikita Miller, who we think are the best left-arm spinners in the region and they have been bowling very well for us. I don’t think they have failed us over the years.
“Then, you look at our batting, and I don’t think, and Ryan Hinds, himself would accept that he hasn’t been batting well and I think Ryan is more a batsman than a bowler,” Butts said.
“Even if you look at the Twenty20 that he just played, I know it is a different class of cricket, but he hasn’t been batting that well.”
In relation to Best, who was the leading fast bowler in the 2010 WICB 50-over Tournament in Jamaica, Butts said it was tough fitting him into the side, taking into consideration the performances of the fast bowlers already in the team.
“Are you aware as well what happens to our bowlers that have been bowling for the West Indies? Do you think they have failed and they should not be selected?”
he asked when Best’s exclusion was queried by cricket commentator Andrew Mason.
“Look at who we have selected as our fast bowlers. We have Ravi Rampaul, who has been there; Kemar Roach and [Andre] Russell, who had an excellent tournament as well.
“If you are going to look at a position for somebody, it got to be who you are going to replace. It just can’t be that you are going to pick somebody into a team just like that.”
Butts further acknowledged that while Best and Hinds “are performers” on the regional circuit, their exclusion from the recent “A” Team series against Pakistan was to give other players an opportunity to show what they have to offer.
“They have been around for a little while and we know them,” he said.
“The West Indies Cricket Board made a statement earlier where we are going and where we want to be in the next two to four years, and we have decided that we are going to give as many young players a chance, see how they operate and then we will know how to form our squads and to move forward from there.”
