Roberts: 'Why Rush Lawson Back?'

West Indies fast bowling legend Andy Roberts believes it was "a waste of time" to select Jermaine Lawson for the upcoming tour of England.

Speaking to CaribbeanCricket.com from his Antigua home, Roberts accused the West Indies selectors of rushing Lawson back into international cricket before he was ready. "Lawson hasn't even played three proper first-class games and he's back in Test cricket. They're wasting time. He cannot be successful without proper preparation."

Roberts, who runs fast bowling clinics for the WICB, said Lawson should have been allowed to feel his way slowly back into competitive cricket. "It makes no sense for him to go to England. What is he going to do there, waste time? He can't swing the ball. He can't bowl at 90 miles-per hour anymore so they're wasting time."

"What they should have done is to allow him to feel his way back into it. Let him play a full season of first class cricket at home. Let him work his way back and find his pace and find his effectiveness."

Roberts made his remarks before Lawson was drafted into the ODI side to England as a last-minute replacement for the injured Fidel Edwards.

Lawson, who was reported to the ICC for throwing last May, spent the last year battling a lower back injury while working to correct his bowling action. He returned to Test cricket for the first Test against Bangladesh in St Lucia but was a mere shadow of the tearaway fast bowler he once was.

Against Bangladesh, the 22-year-old Jamaican finished with 2-126 from 32 overs (17 no-balls). To the naked eye, his action appeared clean but journalists covering the match reported he topped out in the low 80 mph range and seldom troubled batsmen.

Despite the disappointing return, Roberts believes Lawson can be effective again if his return to top-grade cricket is properly handled. "It all depends on how hard he's willing to work. Lawson should be doing a lot of work on his own. He has to feel his way back slowly during the domestic season and work on regaining his pace."

Roberts was critical of Lawson's approach to the remedial work done during the last year. "I don't think Jermaine felt he had a problem. That is where the first mistake was made. He should have been convinced that he had a problem. Only then it would have been easier to work with him."

A member of the WICB's cricket committee (playing and development), Roberts was involved in discussions where the medical panel complained about Lawson's lax attitude towards appointments with medical specialists.