Concerned that the prevalence of spin was "impacting negatively" on pace, the West Indies Cricket Board directed its cricket committee last June "to make further recommendations to prioritise the development of fast bowlers in the region and for the West Indies team".

Whether or not purely coincidental, the powerfully built Alzarri Joseph, 6ft 4in of genuine pace, has suddenly emerged to unsettle batsmen and ease the WICB's anxiety.

The reasonable expectation is that his influence on the West Indies' triumph in the recent Under-19 World Cup, beamed live on television throughout the Caribbean, might inspire a revival of fast bowling, always the hallmark of the finest West Indies teams.

Joseph was clocked delivering the fastest ball in the tournament - at 91.5mph. He consistently hovered around the high 80s-90mph. He claimed at least one wicket in each of his opening bursts. Helmets were hit, gloves were jammed against bat handles. Of his 13 wickets, four were bowled, with stumps ripped out of the ground, three were lbw, and three caught by wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach off tentative edges or miscued hooks. Another was stumped, not a notation to please any fast bowler, as the alert Imlach pinged the stumps when India's careless opener Rishabh Pant was out of his ground after letting the third ball he faced in the final go through.

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[b]In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com[

If I were the selectors I would replace Pollard, Narine, and Daren Bavo with Calos Brathwaite, Alzarri Joseph and young Pope, though I like Charles and would have selected him in the original squad ahead of Andre Fletcher. I believe now is the correct time to blood them in

In reply to sandisha

Their first introduction to international cricket should be in matches less hectic than 20/20 cricket, what do you say?

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

If he is mentally ready...I dont see why not.

He knows what its like to WIN...and he has the pace.

We will never know what he can withstand until he faces batsmen of a higher calibre...It can only do his development some good...provided his Captain uses him well.

West Indians head must be really hard

In reply to silver
True dat.
In reply to sandisha
agreed

In reply to dayne

Ideally, I would prefer to see young cricketers introduced in test cricket. However, seeing they just competed in the U19 world cup tournament, where they performed incredibly and, impressed many great former cricketers, I feel it would have been the ideal time to give them the exposure they need to compete against international cricketers. Joseph for example plays in our domestic completion and has shaken some of our players on the West indies team. So yes, I would blood them in now!

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
Yes!

Sandisha I hope you meant Duane Bravo or DJ Bravo not Darren Bravo or DM Bravo .He is now one of our best batsmen certainly in the current team

With the talk of Alzari Joseph did Chemar Holder not help the team as well . Who did not select Holder in the initial team ? Joseph needed the pressure from the other end and Holder did the job . There should be equal focus on upgrading the skill set of Holder as well .

In reply to Cornfused

Agreed. I'm, worried that his body will need to be a bit more developed tho. I remember a young Jerome Taylor getting injuries after injuries because his body wasn't well developed. They shoud bring Holder into the system around good coaching a training as well.

In reply to Cornfused

This is about who is ready now for the senior team. You clearly do not think that Holder is ready so why should the focus be about him? BTW he needs to work on his action.

Absolutely.
Do not let him wither on the vine.

In reply to jballer84

have you seen Rabada? He is no Mr. Universe.
Body development will occur with time. Joseph just needs to be managed properly.
The WI should follow the example of SA and mirror what they are doing with Rabada.

In reply to voiceofreason




Joseph should play t20 and ODI,if he make progress, then by next year you introduce him to the test team. Hopefully Roach shoulder is better and Taylor regains form.

Holder at 17yo should be in nursery school, learning .

Harding at 19 is a better option than Holder

This yute is better than most of the older bowlers being paraded. He shold be rewarded and given the chance to ply his skills where it matters, with the big boys. The confidence in doing this to him will make a man out of him quickly. He has shown the temperament to do well in tough situation.

Why wait to throw him in when the front line bowlers are not cutting it.

This thread is reflective of the wildness in West Indies cricket.

It's how we do stuff.

We like to crucify the WICB with their unplanned madness. Same way we are here with these kids.

It's shouldn't have taken a U19 Competition to know how bad or good, Holder or Joseph was.

But hey we fans and apparently the WICB suddenly "discovered" them after the mankad. Had there been no mankad there would have been no infantile call for Joseph by cc.com and the fickle Fandom.

Now it's the final and usual wildness, rush them forward to the big team and even t20 with no plan or program.

Do we wonder why we get the same shyte results year in year out. No we don't. We just keep plugging along.

How old was Holdinf again? And he was a skinny one too! Joseph should be able to back up ond of Holder, Taylor & Roach/Whomeverelse

In reply to Scar

The difference between Alzarri and Chemar Holder is that Alzarri is also playing for the Leewards PCL senior team, and he is taking wickets in that format. As pacers go, Alzarri and Cummins are ready for the step up.

When Chemar Holder takes that step, then we can discuss his potential as a Test player - but not until then.

BTW, where is Roach? Why isn't he playing for Barbados? It's time to give him a break from Test cricket....

In reply to mikesiva


Didn't you see Roach in Australia. Roach couldn't make any first class team right now

In reply to silver

That's exactly what Mike is saying, Roach needs to take a rest.

I must say I have been one to say let Joseph wait, but after reading what I'm seeing here, and the example brought forward by embsallie, I'm wondering why not. Why not get him a T20 or ODI, see how he fairs then see
If he doesn't do well he's young and can go back to get the necessary work done. But as Mike says too he's already playing senior cricket here in the Caribbean. I'm sure he's matured and he looks like he haas the mental strength to come back after a bad outing or two.
So what will it really cost us? We do need a wicket taking option up front and Roach is a shadow of his old self, and I'd like to see Rampaul back as well.

In reply to positiveg

Also do not forget the 20-year old Mustafizur Rahman from Bangladesh.