West Indies lead selector, Desmond Haynes, insists fixing the squad’s issues at the top of the order will be a priority for the new panel.
The team’s struggles, particularly at the top of the order, have been well documented in recent times. The issue of finding a consistent partner for team captain Kraigg Brathwaite is one of the primary concerns.
Over the last five years, Brathwaite, who has scored 2188 in 40 matches during that time, has been consistent but it has proven to be somewhat of a carousel in terms of finding an opening pairing with Kieron Powell, John Campbell, and Shai Hope all being trailed for the spot at various times.
“There was good discussion regarding the opening. That in itself is something we want to resolve shortly. I think in all the good teams you find they have good opening batsmen so we are hoping to get our opening batsmen some confidence and make sure they can do the job for us,” Haynes told members of the media on Tuesday.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel today named the West Indies Men’s squad for the first Apex Test match against England, as well as the CWI President’s XI squad for the four-day warm-up match. The first Apex Test will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium from March 8-12, following the warm-up match at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) from March 1-4.
In the West Indies Test squad, there is a maiden call-up for fast bowler Anderson Phillip and a recall for opener John Campbell. Both players were impressive in the first two rounds of the current West Indies Championship, with 25-year-old Phillip from Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, taking 12 wickets at an average of 14.25 per wicket, with best figures of 5-82 against Jamaica Scorpions and 28-year-old Campbell from Jamaica Scorpions hitting 213 runs at an average of 53.25, including 127 against Barbados Pride.
WEST INDIES cricketers have always been in demand as professionals. After acceptance as a serious cricket region in 1928, they toured England, by invitation, to challenge them at Test cricket. During that tour, the Caribbean men became popular in England. The spirited play and excitement these players from the sunshine colonies of the WI brought to the game awakened the staid Englishmen to the passion and thrill in the sport.
The officials of the Nelson Cricket Club started the ball rolling when they saw the great Sir Learie Constantine at play that year. They offered him a contract to play with their amateur club as a professional. Sir Learie accepted it willingly, thus becoming the first West Indian professional cricketer and the first from overseas.
That tournament in the Lancashire League took place only on Saturday afternoons. The amateur clubs in this league eventually followed the lead of Nelson and gradually introduced more Caribbean cricketers to their clubs.
Roston Chase wasn’t meant to play any of the T20Is and was only picked as a backup allrounder. He not only ended the T20I series as the highest wicket-taker across both teams, and all but sealed his spot as a bowling all-rounder, who can offer batting flexibility when the team needs it.
Early wickets lost, consolidation the need of the hour? Dial Chase. Wickets needed with the ball to win back some control? Dial Chase. Besides, Chase is also an excellent fielder inside the ring. He bowled his full quota of overs in each game; his six wickets in three games came at an economy of just 5.16.
Jason Holder’s bruise on his chest prior to the series opener handed him an opportunity. In a modest 157 chase, India were cruising at 57 without loss when he was brought on. He bowled his four overs at a stretch mostly with a wet ball.
ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC) — Lead selector Ann Browne-John does not believe West Indies Women will be at a major disadvantage at next month's ICC 50-over World Cup, despite not having played in New Zealand in three years.
The Caribbean side is one of eight teams doing battle at the March 4 to April 3 showpiece and they will confront cooler temperatures and truer pitches with consistent bounce — which conditions are generally expected to favour faster bowlers.
Browne-John said she expected the 15-member squad to adapt well as they all possess the skill sets required to excel.
“It is true that the team has not been in New Zealand for some time but firstly, we have a technical team who will have knowledge of New Zealand and would've played there before and would have knowledge of the pitches, etc, so that would have had an impact on the selection [of the squad],” Browne-John said.
