OSEAU, Dominica – The Selection Panel of the West Indies Cricket Board announced today a 14-member West Indies squad for the first Test of the International Home Test Series against Australia, starting this Wednesday at Windsor Park here.
SQUAD
Denesh Ramdin (Captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood
Kraigg Brathwaite , Darren Bravo, Rajindra Chandrika
Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder
Shai Hope, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach
Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor
Chandrika has a very poor regional record
In reply to navindesigns
Sigh....
Clive Lloyd has once again slapped Dominica in their face! First it was the dropping of Tiger who is averaging close to 100 runs in Dominica, and today is the non selection of Tyrone Theophile? What is the purpose of our Red Cup? Is it not to impress? Chandrika has not impressed. In fact after 32 matches the man is yet to register a 100 and is averaging 25 runs. Theophile had two centuries this year and is averaging 27 runs and they are both same age. So why Chandrika? For a Dominica match Lloyd? Because Chandrika scored 74 against Australia verses 20 from Theophile? If that's the case then why not Chase who had two fifties against those Ausies? That cannot be good for our cricket because it clarly shows that our team is selected based on which island we from and not based on domestic performance. Theophile should not have been included to play against Australia since he earned his selection just as Hope did. Playing him against Australia was just to put pressure on him since he was the 2nd best opener in the West Indies. Furthermore, the man is also a wicket keeper in case of any emergency to Ramdin. He was pressed I must say
I can't believe you are arguing the odds between two players who both average mid 20's!!!!
Based on those averages, none of the, deserve a pick!!
I am not arguing averages because I know if it is based on average, none deserved a pick. I am arguing runs scored this year, where Chandrika, who has NEVER scored a first class hundred, and had a total of 389 runs this year and got picked to play for West Indies, ahead of Tyrone Theophile, who score two centuries and amassed 625 this year. That's my argument and come with facts to dispute the stats. If Theophile were from Either Bados, Trini, JA, or Guyana, it would have been included on the original 20 selected to play England. But instead they played Hope, who got his 688 batting in the middle order. Apart from Devon Smith, no other opener, including Brathwaite got more runs than the Dominican. Why is he not selected to play a match in Dominica? If a player after 32 first class games is yet to register a century, what business does he have on a Windies team? Chandrika got 74 in the first inning against Australia but after they exploited his weakness, they got him for ZERO in the second inning. Lloyd and others are joking boy
In reply to sandisha
Agee, Chandrika should not be the A team, much more the Test team.
In reply to dayne
Yup
It should have been Dowrich and Chase
In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
I honest don't understand the Chandrika pick, what?
In reply to unitsypher
Even Fudadin would have been a more justifiable pick
As someone on this forum so aptly said, Clive Lloyd is an Ar$hole.
In reply to unitsypher
In reply to sandisha
STFU
And Let The Selicktors do their Job
Selicktors know their Jobs
Sir Clive Lloyd is a Genius and OPERATION CLEAN HOUSE IS IN FULL EFFECT
Look out for BIG changes in ODI Team
Dont be surprised if RAMDIN gets dropped. They owe he for India fiasco
In reply to sandisha
WI at the moment does not have Openers and that is the Fact...Dropping Chanders dosent change anything since he is not an opener.
There were a few hopefuls who did well last year were not able to do anything this year. There were 2 good performers at the top. Devon and Theophile. Devon has already proved that he is not made for Highest level and did not grasp the chance given to him again.
After Theo the other opener who impressed was Chandrika and they were given opportunities to step up and show they wanted it. All Theo had to do was score a half Century to get himself in. But He did not. So I dont think it is about just scoring in regionals but also take the chances when it comes across.
WI need players who can come in and perform. Can continue with 20 tests before they start performing. Blackwood and Lil.Bravo should be the template. Not Ganga / Devon
In reply to Pacy
Pacy you don't sound like you follow cricket. Runs wise, Theo got the most as an opener and Chandrika was forth after Devon and Brathwaite. Devon got selected for the first two games against England and got dropped, although he got a half century. Hope who got all his runs in the domestic completion was picked in the original 20 selected to face England, ahead of Theo, though we all knew Gayle was not going to be in. Hope was not asked to prove himself against England or Australia like Theo, the top runs getter was and was asked to open in the third test against England where he failed miserably. Yet, he was not given an opportunity to go and prove himself against Australia like Theo was. As the trend has been, players from the smaller islands are not treated similar to those from Bados, Guy, JA and Trini. The ONLY reason Theo is not on the windies team is because he is from Dominica. Small islanders are treated just as blacks are treated in the world, where a white man will commit a crime and will not go to jail but if the black man commits anything close to the same crime, he is jailed. This Lloyd team is not west indies but we might as well refer to it as the BIG FOUR ISLANDS, since they are the only ones represented. Shame on Dominicans that will turn out in massive numbers to go support them!
In reply to casiba
Its called cleaning house with a dirty broom.
Chadrika dirtying the maroon more with his 25 FC average. Test will be like 15.
In reply to sandisha
Everything you have said make sense and is logical. However I have been advised and now realise it for myself the team of folks who are now running WICB are illogical and don't understand what they are doing.
They may have something of value to offer to WI cricket but a better team needs to be put in place to guide these guys accordingly.
In reply to sandisha
The Theo treatment is so glaring that it ain't funny.
Not saying he is a world beater.
However to Hastily drop Devon after the Grenada thief out and replace him with non opener, Bajan Hope, while ignoring Theophile's record this year was sickening as I've been pointing out here.
This only happens to small islanders.
Where is the Merit crew including Chrissy, who were so adamant on Sammy not playing.
If Theophile was Jamaican, Trinidad or Bajan, they wudda have to find a place for him. in fact he wudda played before Devon.
Chrissy's contribution on the Theophile omission was to point out his humble averages when he started.
Disrmination is ah helluva thing.
In reply to Tagwa1
If Chandrika opens on Wednesday, expect West Indies to be in early trouble because the man is not good enough to be on a west indies A team, much more on the test team. He was only surprisingly selected on the president's X1 to put pressure on Theo, who should have been on the windies team since England tour. To say the opener that got the most runs in our just concluded domestic competition failed against Australia when given a chance, under pressure, is pure rubbish as Pacy said. Hope, the top runs getter FAILED when given a chance to play against England with scores of 5, and 9. On a level playing field, he should have been given a chance to prove himself against Australia by having him and Theo competing for the second sport, instead of Chandrika. But you see, the lad is from Bados and has nothing to prove. His pick is automatic. Theo, is from Dominica and has to prove himself against Australia because the two centuries he got was against poor bowlers like Gabiel, Tino Best, Cummings, who have no international experience. Makes no sense PACY and others who think alike
What is all this about chandrika not being good enough the man still averaged 35 this season and made a half century vs australia.Guyana are regional champs.
They are probably hoping to drop him after the series or first test in a short term effort to appease the Guyana and shiv supporters..
Lloyd is part Bajan.. So all this talk about how he love Guyana is not totally true.. He probably loved Guyana under Burnham
In reply to sandisha
I don't care to respond to your nonsense because you know is because Theo is from Dominica he was not selected. I have nothing to say about Hope because he looks promising and as you rightly said, he is a middle order batsman and not an opener. He was the highest runs getter in the PCL and Theo was the second. Leading to the England series selectors knew they had to pick an opener to replace Gayle, but unfortunately, only two small islanders got runs, Smith and Theo so they picked Devon, and as soon as he failed, Hope was made to open. Why did they not pick Theo in the original 20 man squad so he could be on standby? Whether you like it or not, this is a Bados, JA, Trini, and Guyana team and not west indies, where the best 13 players are selected from our Caribbean tournament. Chandirka should not be picked ahead of Theo! They both played same amount of games in the PCL, Theo got 625 runs with two centuries while Chandrika only got 389, with NO century yet in first class cricket after 32 games? Rubbish! If Theo were from any of the 4 big islands and Chandrka were from Dominica, Theo would have been selected not on the merit that he got 48 runs more against Australia but the PCL, which all of a sudden is not important this year. IT is where you are from and not who was the better one.
In reply to sandisha
In reply to DIEHARD
Sandisha has a solid point. Small islanders have a right to feel agreed how Smith was jettisoned with tasteless haste for a non opener, then they give a spot to an opener with an underwhelming regional record. Maybe they've seen something in Chandrikagoon and he'll go on to an exemplary test career.
In reply to DIEHARD
The previous comment was in response to DIEHARD, who no doubt is from one of those big 4 islands. "2 centuries in 15 FC matches for Hope, vs 2 in 36 for Theophile. Hope wasn't asked to prove himself against the Aussies because the selectors apparently looking for an opener, they are satisfied Hope will do for the middle order. What about Chandrika who has never registered a century after 32 FC games and is same age with Theo. He is on west indies team because he is from Guyana and Theo is from Dominica. You know it, Lloyd and selectors know it,all of us know it even if we try to defend it. The small islanders must do four times better than the 4 big ones to get selected. That's why players like Sebastien, Michael Findlay, Irving Shillingford, who by the way was dropped after a century in his debut, Nobert Phillip, Jim Allyne,Ignatius Cadette, and many others either never got picked or were cutoff soon after they were given a chance. Get that small island chip off my shoulder you said? It's like telling me to get rid of slavery when we are still treated like the days of the plantation
In reply to sandisha
In reply to DIEHARD
I am not proud of Devon's average and I am quite sure he too is not proud of it. We all know the man is far more gifted than his poor test average suggest. However, he was given 35 tests it was 35 games of in and out, where he was constantly under pressure. He was never given the green light to be a regular player. Take for example the great Desmond Haynes, one of my favorite openers. When he made the west Indies team in 1978, he was seen as the future opener whether he failed or succeeded. In fact after his first six tests he had 1 century and two 50's. After 5 Devon Smith 1 century and two 50's but was under pressure unlike Haynes. After Haynes played his 8th test, he went through a drought of 18 tests before registering another hundred. But was he ever under any pressure? Hell no! That's what you call a fare chance. His pick was always cemented. That was not the case with Devon Smith, who never got a chance to play without being under pressure. He was always under pressure and not too many young players do well under pressure. When they went on a short tour, they always went with a third opener. In a home series they picked a 3rd opener to put pressure on the lad. In fact just before Brathwaite made the team, while Devon was selected because he had a double in a practice game, Desmond Haynes was hired as batting coach. Though Brathwaite did not impress in that practice game, he was kept on the team to work with Haynes. If that's not pressure on Devon, what is?
In reply to sandisha
I believe in this last run, Devon was given 5 matches in a row.
Look here yourself, how much of a run he was given
Smith was always the back up opener anyway, he only debuted due to a Gayle injury.
Devon is a good man...unlucky at the highest level
In reply to black
So wait....Bim is not a dot? Is being a dot based on land mass or size of the population?
In reply to Curtis
You make your own luck! Believe it or not I think J Charles is better at the top level than Smith, braver and more ba*ls. Too many dominate local FC because repetition and being accustomed to the same bowlers lets you know them inside out.
In reply to Priapus Funny all those so called dots bigger than Staten Island and Manhattan. Aint that something, its part of the colonial mentality handed down like calling other parts Third World etc.
Really?
Are you guys even seriously contemplating Theophile as a WI opener?
On what basis?. This is a joke.
I would rather take my chances with Devon who has been a mediocre player at best at International level but is a known quantity.
Chandrika is not going to make the final eleven. Granted he is in the squad of 14 but I do not see him actually playing.
So what if he is in the squad? As long as he does not play I do not care.
I see the selectors continuing with Hope to partner Brathwaite.
If another bat is needed I see them using Dowrich in the middle order.
blew off a truck in Dominica earlier...
Trade winds kicking...
1.... K. Brathwaite
2.... S. Hope
3.... D. Bravo
4.... M. Samuels
5.... S. Dowrich
6.... J. Blackwood
7.... D. Ramdin
8.... J. Holder
9.... J. Taylor
10... V. Permaul
11... S. Gabriel
In reply to SamlordPirate
In reply to sandisha
The squad has already been selected now is time to select the final eleven.
My opinion is that we need an extra bowler against this strong Aussie batting line up vs an extra batsman who may not perform based on past performances. Therefore, my team is as follows:
1. Braithwaite
2. Hope/Chandrika
3. Bravo
4. Samuels
5. Blackwood
6. Ramdin
7. Holder
8. Bishop
9. Permaul
10. Taylor
11. Gabriel
Note: Holder, Bishoo, Permaul can also bat and you don't want to over bowl your bowlers. This is what causes them to break down with fatigue and injuries.
In reply to azadtnt
1. Braithwaite
2. Chandrika
3. Bravo
4. Samuels
5. Blackwood
6. Hope
7. Ramdin
8. Holder
8. Bishoo
10. Taylor
11. Gabriel
In reply to Pacy
Bishoo had sore fingers vs England because he was over bowled. This Aussie batting is a better batting team than the English, hence the reason why the extra bowler is important. Also the Aussie normally have more difficulty against spin.
In reply to sandisha
Theophile and lewis are T2o players at this stage
In reply to Pacy
I would play Dowrich as an opener over Chandrika...or middle order if Hope opens
Is the quality of batting talent available to WI really that bad?
In reply to azadtnt
Aussies are not really good against Leg Spin... I would love to have Bishoo over Permaul but will Bishoo be the right leg Spinner we need is the biggest question
In reply to goliath
I understand but I dont want dowrich to bat in an unfamiliar position and then be hounded through his career for a bad start. Dowrich will replace one of the middle order players if they fail / Injured.
As far as the Chandrika is concerned, he is selected and let him show what he has got at the top of the order.
In reply to SamlordPirate
Who tell U that U could pick my 11????????????
Can Samuels and Blackwood handle the Off Spin duty?
A properly developed Deo would have been useful now. 
In reply to sandisha
Maybe Bajans should be complaining about the omission of Brathwaite and Chase 
In reply to sandisha
In reply to azadtnt
1. Brathwaite
2. Hope
3. Bravo
4.Samuel
5. Blackwood
6.Ramdin
7. Dowrich
8. Holder
9. Permaul
10.Bishoo
11.Taylor
I would play both spinners because of the very slow nature of widsor park that will not help Gabriel at all. Fast bowlers don't really do well there whereas spinners usually feast on it, and Australians not good against spin as they were exposed by Shane Shillingford the last time they played in Dominica.
In reply to sandisha
Not a bad team - glad to see that you have made a place for Dowrich who has 2 half centuries against the Aussies.
Depending on pitch conditions would play either Permaul or Gabriel
In reply to SirGarny
Just a note...at test number 11, Hayne's avg was 51.06. by Test number 27, his avg was 37.46. That meant he had a string of desultory results scores over those 16 test. However, opening is a unique batting position that has to be learnt. Not many can do it.
One can argue that if Smith was given that opportunity to actually learn on the job like Haynes did (he had GG at the other end to watch), who knows what might have been.
The WI selectors are really, really exposing themselves here. Against a team like Australia, you don't need to blood fringe players. And they have gone for inexperience and mediocrity.
I think they will be missing Shiv. Forget about the last few tests. Shiv is class. These chaps are spitting in the wind. If the Aussies gets rolling...we will be witnessing a 3-day test match.
In reply to Larr Pullo
So you think Devon is a Dessi? Bro what are you smoking...care to share some...cause the effect is stunning.
In reply to DIEHARD
Dude... wait until you see the proposed squad for JAM twn..
1.... K. Brathwaite
2.... S. Hope
3.... D. Bravo
4.... M. Samuels
5.... S. Dowrich
6.... J. Blackwood
7.... D. Ramdin
8.... J. Holder
9.... J. Taylor
10... K. Roach
11... S. Gabriel
12... C. Brathwaite
13... R. Chase
In reply to Larr Pullo
In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
In reply to SirGarny
You could make the same argument for Wavell too. He started well, scored a big ton against Pakistan, and as soon as his production fell a bit he was dropped. The fact is the WI did little for years in trying to develop proper openers. They'd pick them, have them in and out the team, which fcuked with their confidence, then drop them when inevitably they show the results of their lack of confidence, which, more than anything else an opener needs.
In reply to Larr Pullo
Ahh...the sad state of Devon. Someone should have told him the key to not getting dropped was to score some runs when he was perennially selected.
Cricket is runs, and runs is cricket.
Rajindra will never see a game, hes in there for lloyd save faces that jackass
will never support WI cricket they continues to threat players immorally when they exit the game
In reply to RemainsUnknown
In reply to SirGarny
My friend Devon is by far the best opening batsman we have in the West Indies today, even when Gayle is available. As a small islander he was not given a fair chance to adapt to test cricket. We expect him to be like Haynes and we compare his domestic average to test average, which is not fair to him for the following reasons: In domestic competition we don't use technology and umpires decision is final. Imagine you playing front foot all the time and gets away with LBW and you get into test and though on field umpire may give you NOT OUT, replay gives you out. Haynes and others did not have to play with replay. To develop the kind of batters and cricketers we want to see, WICB need to invest in technology so our players could get use to balls they need play at and those they need to leave. Aussies are using them , Indians to certain extent, England and others are all using them in their domestic league, even in under 19 competition. That's why we needed to give gifted players like Devon and others a little more time to succeed in the highest level. Our players are gifted but their judgment is poor. It makes no sense to allow them to play without the use of third umpire in our domestic league and when they get to test level expect them to excel when they are not use to replay system
In reply to Larr Pullo
so i guess the same applies to Barath as well...
In reply to sandisha
smith can't even bat spin to save his life, but you want him to open....
How come the usual suspects not here cussing the selection of Chandrika? Dem strangely quiet.
how many of shai hope 15 first class matches were as opener?
Team of the future:
K. Brathwaite (c)
T. Chanderpaul
S. Hope
D. Bravo
J. Blackwood
S. Dowrich (wk)
J. Holder
V. Permaul
D. Bishoo
K. Roach
M. Cummins
I have yet to ever see a selected WI team that gives even a modicum of satisfied consensus on this forum……and an interesting note - the dissatisfied almost always have a problem with somebody from their country not being selected --- is this the new definition of objectivity?
The sad thing is that when that left out player does get a chance – we invariable see why he was previously left out…….. man - with all those wonderful non-selected talent ……seem like we should be fielding two teams
In reply to camos
Really???
He must think Indian peeps stupid?
Even so he could have called up Deo as an OffSpinner who could bat @ or where needed.
In reply to birdseye
Go to the head of the class Sir.You have hit it out of the park.
In reply to navindesigns
Means nothing if he can perform the big day.Lloyd looked into man's eyes and saw strength
In reply to sandisha
Dominica Bigger than Barbados
In reply to Controversy
Lloyd is part Bajan ???
In reply to Pacy
brathwaite is a bowler
blackwood can bowl
Samuel can bowl
I ask again
What are Muddies /
Same as dotties ???
based on performance, and first class records...I say that Dowrich plays before Chandrika.
In reply to casiba
The Muddies are the Guyanese because the country is wet with loads of mud.
The team selected for the first test sure generated a good conversation. While I am very disappointed that neither Theophile nor Devon Smith, the best opening pair in the Caribbean were given a chance on home turf, come tomorrow I will still rally behind the Bados, Trini, Guyana and Jamaica team they sell as West Indies. I do believe that we need to forget about where one is from and select them for talent. I am still baffled that there was no place for either of the best opening pair in our just concluded tournament, who had 2 century opening partnerships, including a 269, five 50's, two centuries each, five half centuries each and selectors decided to pick Chandrika, who also had 12 games to show his talent and had 4 fifties, with a highest of 83, with NO centuries in first class cricket after 32 games and never got involved of a 100 opening partnership. This is pure madness on the side of selectors and Lloyd and they would not have treated bagans, Guyanese, trinees or Jamaicans like this on the eve of a home test match. If none of our openers got picked after such a great season and when windies looking for an opening pair, the small Islands might as well start to develop the game and form their own test team because clearly, there is no hope for their players in the west indies.
Here is a good Windward and Leewards team that can play their own test cricket:
1. Devon Smith
2. Thyrone Theophile
3.Johnson Charles
4. SW Ambris
5. Rahkeem Cornwall
6. Devon Thomas -wicket keeper & V/captain
7. Darren Sammy- Captain
8. Kenroy Peters
9. Delorn Johnson
10.Mervin Matthew
11. Shane Shillingford
12.Anthony Martin
13. Jahmar Hamilton
14. Nelon Pascal
15. Alston Bobb
This 15 man squad is good enough to play test cricket as Combined Islands, and I have no doubt they would beat the team selected to play against Australia tomorrow.
In reply to sandisha
Are you serious about what you said about your friend Devon?
In reply to sandisha
The Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad tea AKA West Indies, made one costly mistake by not playing Veerasammy Permaul instead of Gabriel or Holder. Windsor Park is a very slow wicket that does not usually help the quicks, and offers a lot of help to spinners. Furthermore, Australia bat pace much better than spin, and Permaul and Bishoo bowling in tandem would be a handful for them. But let them fight their own battle
In reply to sandisha
Are you an idiot ... Trinidad has no test matches
In reply to sandisha
Time for the Combined Islands to go it alone, right?
In reply to moneybrain
Thank you Muddy Brain uh mean Money Brain
you people are sain else !(something else)
making up these names.
I have been a member since 2003 
