LONDON – Sunil Ambris and John Campbell stroked lively half-centuries as West Indies A earned a draw against English County Surrey on the final day of their first class tour match yesterday.
Left to survive two sessions after the hosts declared at lunch with a lead of 361, Windies A safely navigated the afternoon at the Oval to end on 194 for three in their second innings.
Test batsman Sunil Ambris sent selectors another reminder of his quality with an unbeaten 63 while opener Campbell struck 55.
Vishaul Singh chipped in with 26, opener Chandrapaul Hemraj got 23 while wicketkeeper Devon Thomas finished 22 not out.
Surrey had earlier added 111 in the first session as they converted their overnight 62 for one into 173 for four declared in their second innings.
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WI A have no shame. Roughed up by an under-strength county team. They are supposed to be the equivalent of an India A or England Lions but they are proving to be just about county cricket strength.
WI cricket will go through yet another lull after the current team starts to disband in 3 to 5 years, unless a better crop of 2nd team players show up soon.
This also shows that the current WI team has little or no depth. The team would be seriously weakened against average Test opposition if Gabriel, Roach or Holder cannot play.
The current batting, except for Paint, is essentially trash at the average Test level and it would hardly make a difference if any of the current batsmen were unavailable, again except Paint.
Hope, Dowrich and Chase could improve at the Test level and should be persisted with. Hety looked halfway decent against Bang but needs to show good runs against better Test teams. So, he could keep the rookie spot until his class becomes clear.
Nevertheless, these WI A team batsman who are struggling against sub-ordinary county teams have shown nothing of merit to suggest that they could improve the current WI Test team.
