In a television interview before the announcement of West Indies' squad for the tri-series at home against Australia and South Africa in June, commentator Ian Bishop stressed on the need to focus on white-ball cricket ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

"Let us not burn any more bridges," Bishop told Sportsmax Zone. "We are already missing the Champions Trophy next year. The World Cup is coming up in 2019. Let us start putting pride and ego aside.

"Re-engage those guys who were sidelined in the last year and a half and that will spill over to the Test team, because the bulk of our experience is in white-ball cricket. So while we develop the Test team, let us push hard with the 50-overs and T20 teams."

If you look at the squad named for the tri-series, you will assume the West Indies board and its selectors are not only thinking on totally different lines from Bishop but that they are also contradicting their own policies.

Clive Lloyd, Courtney Walsh and the rest of the selectors have picked a team that has left the majority of the Caribbean media, fans and players flabbergasted.

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In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

It is generally acknowledged that :

" WHEN YOU ARE IN A HOLE

IT IS BEST TO STOP DIGGING ".

Because You may find it exceedingly difficult to extricate yourself ; if You dig very Deep .

For quite sometime those in the governance of Cricket in the Region
have ignored this fact .

This is despite appeals from those who have represented the Region and
are very passionate to see Our Teams
once again be fully competitive in the International Cricket Arena .

Unfortunately those appeals are falling on Deaf Ears . The Stewards of Cricket in the Region for many years now have utterly failed to understand the fact that THEY cannot attract Financial Sponsors if the
performances of Our Players are Piss Poor in the International Cricket Arena .

As I have stated in this Forum before ,
the WICBC is unable to capitalize on the recent Successes of our T-20 teams
because I have been told Contractual
Obligations .

My response to this is that once again
those in the governance of Cricket in the Region have once again demonstrated
their total lack of business Acumen .

Worse yet they are currently fighting Tooth & Nail to maintain their 89 years old Structure . They utterly refuse to become a part of the 21st
Century ; and recognize that the
Structure of the WICBC MUST BE CHANGED .

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Let's get real. Lloyd is only there for the money. Nothing else. He follows instructions and rocks no boats. US$100,000 plus expenses per annum, in your old age, is nothing to sneeze at. Many here know that but still respect his past so don't want to call a spade a spade. How do you still respect a man who has no respect for himself and his legacy?

History has shown that when regional cricket was strong, the touring team was strong, International players were playing regional cricket, and it was competitive, with stadiums being full.
The T20 WC has shown, players like Charles, Fletcher and Brathwaite were ready, because they played in the CPL with the International players.
Point, can you imagine what our cricket would be like, if the county players, decided not to play regional cricket?

In reply to openning

And the others that made up the WI team played with who, blown up dolls?

In reply to openning

Wtf u talking about?

In reply to openning

and what would have happened if our players hadn't played county cricket. County cricket was unique in that it did not clash with any other cricket, apart from the English home international season obviously.

At least in the 20/20 leagues around the world, our players are learning what it's like to be a professional player, with a back-room of experts maximizing their chances of success.

Ideally, they'd play it all, IPL, Big Bash, domestic and International. However, as the article points out, even after bravo & Polly gave up money to play domestically, the WICB over-looked them for other (non cricket-playing) reasons.

If the WICB is serious about maximizing their talents, they need to sit down with them and agree a schedule for them together and get them under contract. Otherwise, it's the same ol, same ol'.

In reply to DIEHARD

Dude, players improve, by playing against the best.
The CPL is the only format, that a young bowler can bowl at Gayle
Can you imagine what it was like, watching Garner and Marshall bowling to Viv and Richie, or Lance bowling to Sir Gary?
We just don't see that kind of competition any more, because the International players are not available.
When last have you seen, Bravo or Russell bowling their ninth or ten over, or bowling after tea, in a match?

In reply to Kurt

You really think this format, prepare players to bowl or bat during a 50 over or a test match?

In reply to Kurt

U mean non cricket playing in India reasons?

In reply to openning

Look, I don't think many can question whether the experience gained in the T20 leagues can help to develop players to compete at a high level.

No one is also asking the T20 league players to stop all T20 leagues either. Actually the WICB made it a priority to leave the IPL window open and the CPL (this year i would think is an exception given that WI is trying its very best to accommodate India).

The only ask after that is for the players to bring back some of that experience to our regional tournaments. The Super50 lasts just about three or four weeks.



I don't agree with Bish here...

It is not just about re-engaging those who are out but most improtantly setting a presidence for new players coming up.

In reply to Kurt

Leave Openning alone , I was just going to respond to his nonsense , when I saw your thread .

Lost on people like Openning is the fact that when it was decided to stop all the matches that International Touring Teams played before & between
the Test Matches . Our Players were
hurt more than Players on other International Teams .

Our Players did not have a Semi or Pro League to keep their skills honed .Players on other Teams had Leagues ,
County ; & State Cricket .

In addition , those matches when on Tour , served to acclimatize the Touring Teams , to both the weather &
the Pitches . I have stated the above
many times , but some people heads are to dense , to understand .

In reply to POINT

What is what you just wrote, has to do with the thread or topic?
Have you seen Bravo or any the T20 league players, playing ODI or 4-day matches?
Have you see Bravo or Russell bowling
Their tenth over or after tea on any day to determine their selection?
Can you name any Internatinal player did is selected, only from playing T20 cricket?

Evidently , Some people would like us to believe that Bravo & Russell are
Novices at the longer formats of the game .

Some are only interested in ensuring
that Players from their Countries are
on the Team . Nothing else interests
them .

In reply to POINT

Tell us about these players, bowling they tenth over lately in any 50 overs game or bowling any day after tea in the longer version.
Dude, it is like Bolt running the 400 meters, without working on that format, it is that simple.

They have been playing Cricket frequently , in the IPL & other Leagues
So I do not believe that their Fitness , Skills & Concentration have diminished greatly .

Unlike some people , I have no dog in the Fight . I simply want the best Players to be representing the Region .

In reply to POINT

Dude it is not about fitness, these guys have been playing 20 overs cricket, with the bowlers bowling 4-overs per match.
Now you expect them to bowl 10-overs or 3-4 spells in a day.
These guys are not machines as you think they are.
It is giving Bravo or Russell a ball that has been bowled for 15 or 75 overs.
Sports is not like a 9-5 job, it takes practice and repetition, hours and hours go into being good, taking that 60-70 overs ball in the nets, and get it to reverse swing, comes with practice.
As far as batting, the only none pinch hitter among the batsman is Gayle, would you share with us, these guys batting stats, in any format?
I respect the players for making money, but I agree with Kurt's comment about the two sides getting together and finding common ground.
The players will have to give up some thing in order to play or be selected for the longer version.
BTW, apart from CHG, none of the guys have any stats at the other formats, to be selected.
I am a fan of Pollard, I think he can be a super star if he give up some of these T20 contracts and work on all formats of his game.
Dwayne Bravo, should stick to T20, Lara told us enough of him.

In reply to openning

Really?

The BUM squad aka WICB fucked up Bravo`s career big time....check his early stats "down under"...and wheel and come again.

Btw,BCL was a great player but a useless "mentor".

Cant recall any player to "improve" under his 3 cappoship periods.

The Sammy "cappoship" madness killed DJ`s test career...and for what???

In reply to openning... haven't seen Narine or Pollard either ... what's your POINT?

In reply to natty_forever

Pollard played for T&T a few years ago, Narine had bowling issues
Apart from Bravo being selected for the tour to India, when last had he played 50 overs or 4-day cricket?
BTW, I remember BCL telling him and us, he is a batting all-rounder and should bat like one, what is he?

This was DJ Baravo stats in his last regional 50 overs,
T&T Batting NAGICO SUPER50 2013/14l

Bowling

In reply to openning... not supporting Bravo's selection. Against what appears to be double standard. Couple years a go counts?

In reply to natty_forever

Most of us knew it was vindictiveness by the WICB
My point to all you fans, I cannot see any team selecting players, solely from playing T20 cricket

In reply to openning... unless it is for T20I.

The rule is there, I may not support it, but it is what it is.