Given the fragility of West Indian batting, it is not unreasonable to ask what has taken the 24-year-old Dominican Alick Athanaze so long.

When the diminutive teenager announced himself to the world at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, the only question was when he would be considered ready for Test cricket. Not if.

Back then he topped the tournament's batting aggregate with 418 runs in six innings at the jaw-dropping average of 104.50. As it turned out the West Indies were relegated to the Plate Final, losing to Sri Lanka at that stage, with India triumphant as Under-19 World champions.

Those trailing Athanaze in terms of aggregate at that Under-19 tournament included current Indian stars Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw, and the name now on every lip in English cricket, Harry Brook.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has to take part of the blame for slowing Athanaze's progress, especially since the accursed sickness prevented regional cricket in 2021.

Read more at Jamaica Observer

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

It has taken Athanaze this long due to selections like Reifer, let’s be honest, if he was Bajan, he would have been playing for WI from at least two years ago.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

could it be it took so long because his FC average before this season was low 20s - (it is now 31)

could it be it took so long because his LOs average is still 23.7 and it was in teens no so long ago?

rational minds would like to know

tenks

In reply to doosra

“ Those trailing Athanaze in terms of aggregate at that Under-19 tournament included current Indian stars Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw, and the name now on every lip in English cricket, Harry Brook.”

Somehow other cricketing nations know how to develop their talented players, when we are lacking, I believe that our players at that age is just as talented with tremendous potential but with lack of proper training, development and the inconsistent, ad hoc selection procedures, we have left many talented young cricketers around the region underdeveloped.

In reply to Slipfeeler

let us first agree that whatever the system, his data are facts...

but if you want to argue the system then do so

Gill, Shaw etc those guys went to first class cricket and dominate it

Athanaze did not, for whatever reason

In reply to doosra

I am agreeing with your reasoning, I have actually shared it in previous posts but my argument has to do with the lack of proper development of our talented players. Who is responsible for their further development? Shouldn’t a young player be selected for tours, etc. before been selected for WI duties? I am not talking about U-19 level matches.

In reply to Slipfeeler

we agree on the development aspect

There are many reasons for his delay, let’s be real about it. First, he was not pushed by his own Island of Dominica. Cricket has been a dead spot under the Skerrit administration and his last two female sports ministers the past 15 yrs, who never played sports and couldn’t differentiate a cricket ball from a baseball didn’t help the young man.

secondly, the Winward island selectors didn’t help him. In fact he was dropped more than once from the Windwards team.

Thirdly he is not from Barbados or Trinidad and when you are from the small island of Dominican you have to be 5 times better than the others. He wasn’t even given a fair chance by his home selectors so he couldn’t be five times better.

I noticed others referenced his FC average and that’s true. But it’s not easy for a young man who played a game here and there, batting all over the place more as an all rounder to just come and dominate. That’s why we need selectors like Brian Lara, who can recognize talent and not average. Had it not been for Lara who saw Fedel Edwards in net practice he probably might not even play for Barbados let alone West Indies

WiCB needs to have a system in place to help develop young talents like Athanaze who didn’t get the love and care he needed from his home country and home team. In my opinion from the U19 WC Arthanaze should have been under the mentorship of Brian Lara, Sawan and Chanderpaul. Luckily Athanaze kept a strong head and kept working on his game though he had to move to Grenada for help.