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It's a testament to Devon Smith's character

 
Larr Pullo 2017-12-16 14:42:30 

That with little hope of the reward of being called to higher service on the WI senior team, he soldiers on year after year, just compiling runs for his regional team.

Many others would have wilted and not taken care of their fitness, quit, and faded away from the scene.

He should be held up as an example of what a dedicated cricketer should be.

 
WestDem 2017-12-16 14:51:20 

In reply to Larr Pullo

He and Shiv! I hope he gets a call up once again, he deserves it! cool

 
voiceofreason 2017-12-16 14:58:25 

In reply to Larr Pullo

It is a darn right travesty that at 36 a Man could be considered discarded forever. It is facting ludicrous!

 
anandgb 2017-12-16 15:15:18 

In reply to Larr Pullo

He should be held up as an example of what a dedicated cricketer should be.


True.

 
hawk 2017-12-16 15:27:40 

In reply to Larr Pullo

he is like his namesake at the regional level.....

A run machine,
as for a recall....i normally would go for it, but anything is possible, it is extremely hard to ignore such heavy scoring, more so when the incumbent are failing

 
granite 2017-12-16 15:51:08 

A recall for Devon Smith,Shiv,Miller/Permaul and Ramdin.

 
TheTrail 2017-12-16 17:35:43 

Now that Powell is on another sabbatical after the dismal showing in the just concluded test series, the opening position is wide open for the taking.

I would suggest to the selectors to give Devon Smith another shot in the test team. He may be a late bloomer, like Shiv, who had a slow start in the beginning but picked up the pace in later years with all those centuries and fifties and in the process move his status up to greatness.

In the words of de Donald: “what the hell do they have to lose” by investing in Devon Smith once again?

If the selectors do not want to invest in him again, they should move Evin Lewis up to test cricket from the ODI format.

 
Courtesy 2017-12-16 18:08:31 

How much test match Devon must play before he can be considered a shithound?

We have our quota of shit already.

 
Khaga 2017-12-16 18:09:35 

In reply to WestDem

Both are not good enough for the real put food leagues.. lol

 
sunfish 2017-12-16 18:42:24 

There is a real possibility that Smith could reach 1000 runs this season. He just needs to score 206 more from 3 more matches.

Does anyone know what the current record is? Has anyone ever gone past 1000?

 
Andy99 2017-12-16 18:48:58 

In reply to Larr Pullo

That with little hope of the reward of being called to higher service on the WI senior team, he soldiers on year after year, just compiling runs for his regional team.

Many others would have wilted and not taken care of their fitness, quit, and faded away from the scene.


Isn't this his job? Match fees, regional contracts, as far as I am aware he has no other option. Cricket is his profession.
At his age if he fails even for a short time thats its his career done so he has no option but to work hard and keep up the performances.

 
Runs 2017-12-16 19:03:50 

In reply to Narper

Hooper too razz

 
Andy99 2017-12-16 20:14:37 

In reply to Tagwa1


We can say that for anybody in Life Andy. They all have the same option Devon have, make runs, take wickets, get compensated.

But as Larr points out they don't. That's why he an example.

As for you editorializing about his options...

what do you know about Devon Smith besides being a run machine.

So don't go talking about people as people and their options when all you know about them is through a game....get it a game..


That wasn't meant to be a dig about Smith.
Man allyuh like to take things so personal. rolleyes

Smith is not exceptional in that he his performing at his job, and most cricketers of his generation (the generation after him have more opportunities for school and sports) only have cricket as their option. That is not something to look down at or anything its just a mere fact.

 
Real-cricket 2017-12-16 20:17:54 

In reply to TheTrail

I would suggest to the selectors to give Devon Smith another shot in the test team. He may be a late bloomer, like Shiv, who had a slow start in the beginning but picked up the pace in later years with all those centuries and fifties and in the process move his status up to greatness


you joking right?

Shiv just wasn't converting his 50's bro

 
Runs 2017-12-16 23:54:49 

Them things that Shiv doing is not called runs also razz

 
openning 2017-12-17 01:41:41 

The #3 slot is available, get him out of retirement for that position.
Brathwaite
Smith
Chanderpaul

 
Windies2017 2017-12-17 14:15:29 

This guy Larr is a major hypocrite.. has positive words for a proven failure at the international level but puts down one of the best Windies batsman that is still performing and keeps his fitness at a high level.

 
thomasthomas 2017-12-17 16:45:57 

In reply to Emir

+1

 
Bigzinc 2017-12-18 10:31:20 

In reply to Larr Pullo

Indeed Larr. Devon loves the game and he gives his all for his team.

Just wondering why Devon is lauded (rightly so) for his dedication and excellence and Shiv is vilified for doing the same thing.

What is the difference that you would look at two virtually identical situations and have opposite opinions?

Not expecting an answer. Its much easier for you to pick on the village idiot K...

 
Larr Pullo 2017-12-18 10:37:14 

In reply to Bigzinc

I know you don't want an answer..much easier to say stuff unchallenged around these parts.

But....Did Shiv play every game of the Guyana campaign? If not, why not?

Is Shiv giving it his all to return to the WI team, if that is indeed his goal, or is he keeping sharp for County cricket? Can anyone answer?

The situations are NOT virtually identical by any stretch of the imagination.

 
Bigzinc 2017-12-18 11:36:25 

In reply to Larr Pullo

I dont advocate for shiv's return to the team. His time has passed. But Devon is no spring chicken either, besides he has been found wanting at the international level time and time again. As Sobers said, recycling failures. Devon's level is at regional and he may end up with the most runs, centuries etc. Remember Hicks and Ramprakash, classic example of people who were excellent as FC but really could not cut it when promoted. Devon is a regional bully but by all means, he has earned a recall.


But be honest with yourself, are there four better batsmen that Shiv in the region?


Devon deserves the plaudits just as Shiv does not deserve to be vilified by you and others of your ilk.

 
Bigzinc 2017-12-18 11:51:37 

In reply to Larr Pullo

Larr, i will defend my opinions or change them if someone can change my perspective

 
osrlive 2017-12-18 11:55:31 

Leave Smith, Shiv and Shillingford exactly where they are.........they cant help WI team.

But they can help PCL by making it more competitive and producing more hardened youngsters(Hety, Ambris, Keemmo, AlJo et al those guys are the future). and where de fack is Gidron Pope?

Taking away the one or 2 high-ish caliber (over 35) ex-players (windies) away from their regional teams just means more BAD players will get selected to WI team on a lower caliber regional competition.

*I do support paying them more to stay fit and active. D Smith deserves an Xmas bonus!
**instead of points teams and players should be getting Dollar$ for performance (century and 5-fers)

 
Larr Pullo 2017-12-18 12:57:13 

In reply to osrlive

.they cant help WI team.


They can help by proving that if a player works hard and performs that there is a greater reward in selection to international cricket. Why do you think many of these players play? They want to test themselves at the top level. Even if they fail, at least a man looking on will say, look what Devon did last year, I want to match that and get selection.

If they don't pick him, players will say these selectors bias, and that doubt creeps into their psyche.

It's human nature...

 
solidrock 2017-12-18 14:00:13 

In reply to Larr Pullo

He deserves to be given one more chance. Maybe this time he can fulfill the potential he gave at the beginning of his career? He might well have 2-3 years left of very good test cricket in him.

Personally, at the start of his career roughly 17 years ago I thought he would have done better than Chris Gayle; and be a more dangerous ball beater. He has let down a whole lot of people and that hurts and saddens!!!
How on earth could he seem like a fish out of water so much trying to play an off break bowler???????

 
Larr Pullo 2017-12-18 14:06:23 

In reply to solidrock

bowler???????


Question marks are appropriate...

 
osrlive 2017-12-18 15:46:40 

In reply to Larr Pullo

players will say these selectors bias
I am sure bias is the least offensive thing one can say about literally all WI selection panels.

I am merely stating my opinion that the better plan is to invest in the youths.
Let the 'mature' (35 and over) players who have already had their chance be the teachers in the PCL. Pay the PCL players who are high performance more.

no income loss
better WI team overall
strong domestic competition

otherwise u really can't say play Devon but not Shiv. Age is either a selection factor or it is not.

 
Tagwa1 2017-12-18 17:43:56 

In reply to osrlive

You play to win now and always.

Brian Close was brought back to fill a hole in the English middle order at 42...and he wasn't making runs as Devon, Shiv and Ramdin.

If they can play FC cricket and dominate under 35s. Why should under 35s, who didn't do as good as them in regional FC, play simply because of age?

Age discrimination is no different from ethnic or racial discrimination.

To judge a player not on merit, but simply on age is discriminatory at it's very core.

 
Bigzinc 2017-12-19 09:26:28 

In reply to Tagwa1

yes but the Close experiment was a colossal failure. Having said that, Devon deserves a shot in the middle order.

 
Jumpstart 2017-12-19 09:31:48 

In reply to Narper

Exactly. Smith is crap.The fact that he make so much runs is an indictment on quality, or lack of, of the PCL.

 
BeatDball 2017-12-19 10:12:22 

In reply to Larr Pullo Well said, larr! But, lewWI see what those in powder gWIne do!

cool

 
osrlive 2017-12-19 10:39:35 

In reply to Tagwa1

in an ideal world.....age is NOT a factor at every job interview.
The employer may not say it, may not state it, but he/she certainly considers it.

Would you advocate the return of Shiv to the test team if he makes 5 centuries NEXT year?

I won't. I'd say our our regional bowlers really suck.

Now if Devon did a Hooper..............scored against all! Did he?

"But the Father said to his servants, Bring Forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring Hither the Fatted Calf and kill it; and let us eat and be merry; For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."

 
osrlive 2017-12-19 10:50:24 

I had to go take a second look. Worth investigating, who were the opposition bowlers.......
He certainly likes dem yaadies.

Bat & Bowl Team Opposition Ground Match Date Scorecard
107*, 154 Windward Is v Jamaica Gros Islet 14 Dec 2017 FC
16, 95 Windward Is v Guyana Providence 7 Dec 2017 FC
116*, 41 Windward Is v Jamaica Kingston 30 Nov 2017 FC
0, 7 Windward Is v Barbados Kingstown 16 Nov 2017 FC
3, 119* Windward Is v Trinidad & T Port of Spain 9 Nov 2017 FC
14, 0 Windward Is v Guyana Gros Islet 2 Nov 2017 FC
16, 185* Windward Is v Leeward Is St George's 26 Oct 2017 FC
0, 61 Windward Is v Guyana Providence 15 Apr 2017 FC
100*, 23* Windward Is v Jamaica Kingstown 7 Apr 2017 FC
65, 11 Windward Is v Leeward Is Basseterre 24 Mar 2017 FC

 
Verstehen 2017-12-19 12:10:06 

In reply to Larr Pullo

I agree. Along with Shiv he is a tremendous servant of the game for WI cricket.

Although not a accomplished as Shiv, he is still someone who loves cricket so much, and that's so painstakingly obvious.