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A talent that offered so much hope at his entry to west indies cricket somewhere around 2011. For many, it was Brian Lara reincarnated, but sadly, maybe it was too much of a burden to carry. While most of the international cricketers that entered the scene around the same time are contemplating retirement after successful careers, Darrren Bravo is still fighting to make the west Indies team.

A young man whom I consider to have been the victim of bad advice, being surrendered by seniors who misguided hm. Emboldened by the possibility of winning an IPL contract, he unfortunately got into a public spat with the then president, calling him a big idiot. he received a suspension, and his career declined considerably from there.

He could not get an IPL contract of note, and his renewed interest in fighting for his place back into the West Indies team was not backed by the potency of his bat. Given numerous chances, he failed to impress. It was sad looking at such decline both in skill and confidence.

In this recently concluded 50 overs regional tournament he topped the overall batting aggregate, but was not picked by the selectors for the upcoming ODI tournament against England. Loud noises from his supporters followed the decision. However, having noticed his struggles over an extended period following his return to West Indies team, I am not surprised that he was left out. I don't believe that 400 runs in one regional tournament is an entitlement to selection, especially for a 34 year old who had so much chances to redeem himself and looked out of place at the international level. I am sure that the selectors took all of that into consideration. Darren Bravo needs to dominate/manhandle regional bowling to easily walk back into West indies team. He was not able to do that in any form over the last few years.

Sad to see that such a huge promise, an excellent talent has to walk away, unfulfilled, and not even aware of where he went wrong, and would blame others for his demise.

In reply to Besar

Wow!! You've summed it up nicely. Who am I to disagree with such a learned and cerebral perspective. Decisions are seldom taken in isolation.

DM Bravo's fall from grace has been spectacular. He promised so much yet delivered so little.

There is intellectual rigor in your post. Thank goodness there are persons here who are keen to view and analyze a given situation from a much broader perspective.

Kudos man, kudos.

RESPECT.

I blame that wicked Jamaican sh!t and now Haynes and Sammy for his victimization. When I was a child I played cowboy and Indian. I believe the myths of the evil white Americans who invented stories of hostile injuns… white malicious shits who were envious and greedy… the internal Caribbean politics is much the same… the abused have become the abusers waving their donkey sticks like illiterate Don Quixotic arses… spraying Devil spawn on the innocents and saying- it’s all your fault …

In reply to Courtesy

But you can remain a child forever. You must grow up and for you graduate to bloomers… you must see wickedness and evil and cry out… whether it is from a St Lucian arse or a Bajan pig… you must raise your handle and take action for the oppressed. Now let us pray…

In reply to Besar

Correct.

I think there should have been 2 sets of criteria for selection, 1 set for all players, and another for Bravo.

In addition, I think the region- CARICOM should pass a law- anyone player who criticize a CWI/WICBC head- should be henceforth thrown in jail.

Furthermore, the CWI should ignore their own selection policy of the domestic competition performance. If any batter is not "manhandling" the bowlers, they should not be considered. In this way, we can select a team of all bowlers.

In reply to Besar

I am a Darren Bravo fan, but like you said he got bad advice surrounding his career.
I remember for over two years CWI tried to selected him, tried to get him to play for the WI team, and for one reason or another he declined.
Now he wants to play, but they did select him.

Who's fault is that???? Could be the new selectors don't see him as being committed to the WI. This is just a continuation of sad times in WI cricket.

In reply to Gun_Play

In reply to Gun_Play

He is and has always been fully committed…..demonstrated…

In reply to Besar


One more pathetic person singing for his suppa.
You not Bravo

When was Bravo suspended for two years? He was victimised and kept out the team for two years. He was never formally suspended. No formal hearing. Nothing. That was the approach on Cameron's era. Did the same to Gayle. We see cricketers around the world do worse and they receive a fair hearing and formally punished and return back to cricket in no time. Even Steve Smith and David Warner, who was caught cheating and banned, returned to cricket faster than Bravo did for calling Dave a big idiot. Too many personal feelings dictate what is done with players careers. It is time that is done with. We can't be saying Bravo who appears in form and has international experience is too old but pick a guy who is basically the same age as Bravo and who has played only two international games. Ottley is basically making his debut. Yet Bravo with experience is too old? They got rid of Powell. Holder and Pooran are not available. If would have been good to have Bravo's experience not only as a batsman in form but also as a leader to lend leadership support to Hope and Alzarri. We have to win matches to even be in the 2027 world cup.

In reply to Emir

Simplistic and very thoughtless response. I will give an example to explain. Someone mentioned Teddy Bishop in a post. If a young player like that or Brandon Kong or so produces such a return, I will support his inclusion in the team. However, if Kieran Powell produced runs similar to Bravo and is left out, I would not cry fowl over that. Kieran Powell has gotten several chances, has been inconsistent, and has failed to dominate at any level recently. So, with his experience, like Bravo, he is expected to dominate these local competitions like Kohli dominated the ODI world cup.

Concerning the issue of criticizing people in high up places. there is an African proverb that says "never fight a war of blame." Hope you understand that. Sometimes we have to be smart enough to know what, how, when and where to say it. We have to teach our young ones to avoid unforced errors .

In reply to Chrissy

You can do better; that is all.

In reply to Besar

You forgot the regional bully Devon Smith.

In reply to Courtesy

Darren is more than that Dottie….