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Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, has reiterated the fact that special consideration is given to players who could have physiological limitations or chronic conditions when fitness assessment tests or conducted, as is often the case in standard international practice.

In the light of the omission of batsman Shimron Hetmyer from the West Indies squad, ahead of the tour of Sri Lanka, based on the player failing to meet the requisite fitness standards, critics have pointed fingers towards other members of the team they doubt are able to meet the requirements.

While a few expressed doubts about legendary batsman Chris Gayle’s fitness level, the majority pointed to the continued inclusion of Rahkeem Cornwall.  The off-spinner is listed as 6’ 7” and 308 pounds but has performed creditably for the West Indies on a few occasions, most recently against Bangladesh.

“As is best practice around the world, there are going to be times when players for different reasons might be unable or incapable of achieving minimum standards either across the whole battery of tests or certain aspects of it,” Adams told members of the media via a Zoom press conference call.

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In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Bad practice.....one set of rules for all...

Gayle has a heart issue doesn't he? So I can understand if he got an exemption.

Cornwall's is weight, and shouldn't have an exemption unless there is an underlying health issue. Dom Sibley was heavy when he first got called up for England and changed his diet and training regime to get fitter.

In reply to WICFan

Gayle had. He got it fixed

What?

Adam's explanation still does not hold water, Hetmyer's supposed lack of fitness did not prevent him from making a fifty and a century last week, Harper and him need to come up with a better excuse.

In reply to WICFan

so man with heart issues getting selected to play for WI cricket team? what is this ah hearing this morning boy

In reply to problemjay

He had an irregular heartbeat that needed surgery.

Glad you find that funny though.

In reply to WICFan

Sure you smart enough guy to read and understand it’s his selection to the WI team that I found funny. Your explanation only lays more criticism on him being selected. Given his health status he should not be on the team.
Cricket is not more important than his health

So Adams read the criticism on cc.com...huh? Thus the explanation.

In reply to sgtdjones

Can you explain it to me? I confused.

In reply to problemjay

Gayle no longer has such issues.

Once more, with feeling.

Gayle's heart issues are long gone.

An irregular heartbeat caused him to have remedial surgery in an Australian hospital more than a decade ago. Long before "Don't blush...baby."

It is no longer a problem and has not been a problem for many years.

//

In reply to problemjay

Jack Leach has crohn's disease and has been playing during this pandemic, think he had sepsis in New Zealand as well.

Pucovski, Maddinson and Maxwell have all had bouts of mental illness, Craig McMillan played despite being a Type 1 diabetic.

If Gayle heart problem is no longer a problem and has not been an issue for more than ten years then WICFAN should NOT have mentioned earlier in the thread that this is a reason why Gayle may have got a fitness exemption.

If he is given an exemption for this issue then its still an issue.

In reply to natty_forever
"Can you explain it to me? I confused."
Very simple. All animals R equal but some R more equal than others. 😁🐷

We cannot apply a cookie cutter approach to our player selection, they are humans not cookies and will not all fit into the cookie stencil.

The fitness progress of our cricketers are being tracked. Folks were omitted because they fell off their OWN fitness curve , they are not where they are suppose to be based on where they started taking into consideration their age, recent injuries etc.

If Cornwall regressed in his fitness he would also be dropped.


Chase/Hetmeyer were not dropped because Cornwall is more fit than them but because they did not maintain and improve their fitness as would be expected of professional cricketers.

Chase seems like a committed cricketer , I am assuming that COVID craziness may have thrown him off his rhythm , Hetmeyer however has constantly missed the mark , I hope he wakes up before he becomes another talented washup.

In reply to Str8_Drive

That drive could not be str8er.....

In reply to Str8_Drive

post of the yr.

I hope that the ball they are playing with knows how to behave when going in the direction of the exemptees!!!!!!!!!!!

In reply to Str8_Drive
Well said. I've been saying for a while Cornwall may have an underlying health issue but it doesn't prevent him from being able to play. For confidential reasons they may not want to release the cause.
Folks with Thyroid problems have constant weight issues regardless of what they eat. There is no cure but meds to control the amount of weight gain or loss. Without the meds it will be twice as bad. Venus Williams has health issues and still plays at a high level.
That is what is meant by an exception.

Can anyone name another professional sport where are two sets of fitness criteria for players?
All players should be subject to the same established fitness criteria.
If they did this for Soccer would all the players accept this?
No wonder our cricket is at the level it is at!

In reply to Veracity
Dude NFL players play with injuries that prevent them from being 100% many a time. Soccer players start after injuries not 100% - they get subbed or play in the last 10 to 15 minutes. Basketballers do it all the time MLB players play with slight sprains and strains from rib cage injuries to thigh muscle and turf toes to name a few. A QB just played a Superbowl at less than 100% with a neck sprain and a fractured toe that required surgery right after

Jimmy you are an educated guy, cut the bullcrap

Anyone know what part of the fitness evaluation Hety evaluation failed? Had a fever, dehydration(that happens to the best of them) on that day, cough which got him winded, the runs, breatherlyzer, was 99% recovered from a prior niggles? Jes asking