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ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC) — Head Coach Rayon Griffith has underscored the importance of the four-day Cricket West Indies' President's XI match against England, stressing the fixture presented yet another opportunity for players to impress Test selectors.

A squad, led by resurgent Test gloveman Shane Dowrich, will take on England at Coolidge Cricket Ground from March 1-4 in the build-up to the three-Test series which bowls off here on March 8.

Griffith said he expected all players to take the fixture seriously, especially since many of them were already on the radar of West Indies selectors.

“It's a practice game but [because] we know it's a practice game, we're not just going to go out there to [let it] just be a practice game,” said the Guyanese.

“I think the guys are looking to make the West Indies team, they want to get performances out of the game and you have some of the players who are developing. So we're looking to bring our best when that day comes.”

Read more at Jamaica Observer

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

anyone know if this is being streamed.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com Only one man on the team is test cricket worthy and that is Shane Dowrich. I mean that alone causing people to dislike West Indies Cricket with these former greats that are acting like brainless selectors. I mean why should Sir Desmond Haynes do that to the fans of West Indies cricket? I mean there is no cricket going on now and a test team that looks like a High School team has been picked. Our best players by far are not on the team as, Bravo. Hope, Hetmyer and Chase have all been axed by Haynes. One would expect they would be on the presidents X1 team so if one gets form they could be on the team for the 2nd test. But no and worse thing, our 4 day first class has been put on hold I guess to make sure the other guys don’t get a chance to hit form. Man it’s just damn sickening

So what we have is a situation where if any of the players on the test team gets injured or fails with the bat they can only be replaced by someone on the president’s X1 team. But when one looks at the player’s on the President’s X1 team, only Dowrich has an average of over 30 in first class cricket and, only Dowrich and Thomas have more than 5 first class centuries. So for example the player on the team that looks more like a test batsman is Alick Athanaze but he has not even scored a first class hundred. So say he gets a hundred tomorrow most likely he will be on the test team and if on the test team he scores 2 and 5, he will be dropped. I just think these guys should be given more first class opportunities to score more runs and start to knock on West Indies doors. A player with an average of less than 30, shouldn’t be rushed into the test team when we have Bravo, Hope, Chase and Hetty out. It’s not good for the present and future of our cricket

In Moseley, Solonzo, Athanaze,Carty we don’t have a combined 15 first class centuries. Compare this to Darren Bravo who has 12 first class centuries average of 35, and 8 test centuries ave of 36.47. In fact no one on the test team with over 10 tests have a better average!
Hope has 8 fC centuries and an average of 34. While it is true that he has a poor test average we all know he has the potential to be one of our great players.
Royston Chase has 9 fc centuries and average of 35. While his test average has dropped significantly over the years, he still has 5 test centuries which is more than any of the batsmen selected on the president X1 team have in first class cricket. So if the Players on the president’s X1 all have a very poor batting average below 30, why then rush them on the test team? They should at least show they are better than those you have dropped Sir Hon Desmond Haynes. You sure killing our interests man

Last thing I want to say is, I thought Brown and Harper were terrible and they really were. However, sir Hon Desmond Haynes so far is showing us that he is not only terrible but he is detrimental to our game and poses a serious threat to our cricket. I think he came with an agenda of vengeance and no one benefits from vengeance. I said enough so lash me out now

Where you heard that only Prez XI can get pick? Another way of looking at it, they trying to expose more players to a higher level.

Sorry, guys, I am not with you on this at all. The Pres XI is the reward for players who have performed in the first two rounds of the FC season. I agree with that. Let those guys get a taste of international cricket. I do not think the Pres XI was ever meant to be the reserve for the test team. Why should players who performed in the FC season take a back seat to out of form international players? Those guys should pray that their national teams select them for the last 3 rounds so that they can make an argument for return to the international side. Ideally, there should have been 2 warm up matches being played at the same time against England and against WI so that more players could have had opportunities, perhaps including the out of form internationals.

In reply to Sylobaby

look at it another way, how many 5 fors have Broad and Anderson under their belt. There comes a time when we have to move on.

In reply to Sylobaby

Co-signed.

You made very good points.

I suggested on another tread that the
players you mentioned should be
1. included in the test squad
2. playing a warm up games with the test squad
How stupid in Covid times to have a 13 man squad
How stupid to leave out Hope, Chase et al.
If someone or better 3 people in squad test positive
What then.
Great thinking management. Great leadership.

Haynes, Brung, Harper
Don't make any difference.
same Wondies mentality
Wondies cricket done.

Don't change coach, selectors, captain.
CJHANGE METHODOLOGIES.
Start with foreign coach and allow him
to assist in picking assistants.

In reply to Conorboy
Yes you are right about the number of 5 fours Anderson and Broad have and they were both overlooked . But you will agree that they are on their way out and those selected to tour have good first class records. That’s not the case with our batters selected for the president X1 team. They are not performing in fc and therefore they should not be knocking to be on the test team

In reply to Sylobaby


Your logic is flawed.



The players you named can still be picked firstly. And you can keep rewarding failure or lack of fitness and the like.

I have no real beef with the opportunities given to some out there. It will augur well for WI cricket and cause the dropped players to work and earn their picks.

I like Chase and Hety for different reasons and wish they will be in the team but need to show slate

In reply to Sylobaby