Blackwood and Brooks

Two test bats struggling to make runs at FC level.

Anymore to add?

Former test bats is probably more accurate at this stage!

Blackwood flaws have finally caught up with him, his recklessness, poor defense, unnecessary risk taking are not working this season and for a while. Brooks has been on the decline for a while, he seems to have poor concentration and low intensity.

Both can actually bat.

Confidence, or more accurately, lack thereof, is a helluva thing.

In reply to imusic

To say Blackwood can bat (as in is very decent - i'm not even going to say good) is quite a stretch.

Unless a dramatic flip in form occurs, neither should be anywhere near the test squad in the future.

Brooks, now 35 years old, has 24 test innings to his name. In that span, he has a lone century and an average of just 23. Simply put, that is not good enough. Despite playing over 100 FC games, he fails to even average 30 with the bat in red ball cricket.

Blackwood, the 32 year old former vice-captain of the regional test team, has played over 100 test innings. Three centuries, with a highest score of 112*, is a somewhat limited return for such extensive experience at the highest level. A batting average just scraping over 30 in test cricket is fine for a newcomer learning his art, not for a player who held his place for so long. His FC average is only a touch better, by the way.

Furthermore, for similar reasons, i.e. advancing age coupled with a failure to grasp numerous opportunities, I would add the following players to said list:

Roston Chase. Tomorrow, he turns 32. Has played 49 tests and averages 26 with the bat. His off spin has taken 85 wickets at the highest level (avg 46). A useful player but certainly not someone to build a middle order around.

Raymon Reifer. Turns 33 soon. Limited experience in that he has 14 test innings to his name but an average of just 22 and highest score of just 62 suggests his future opportunities may well dry up. Perhaps the most disappointing statistic is that in almost 100 FC games, with 160 innings to his name, Reifer has one, solitary century and an average of 27. His bowling stats are considerably stronger in first class cricket but he held the number three position for the West Indies in red ball cricket. I feel I may not be alone in wondering why he was ever presented with the opportunity.

Kieran Powell. At the very top of the order, where due to the disappointing loss of form of the captain's partner Tage Chanderpaul, we now face a glaring void that needs addressing with the utmost importance. Some have mentioned Powell, the 34 year old opener as an option. With over 8000 first class runs and north of 2000 in test cricket, he certainly has the experience. But again, despite extended runs in the side and opportunities when others may well have wondering when their chance may come, Powell has failed to raise his average above 25 in tests and just 31 in red ball cricket. It would be a mistake to go back to him, even for a shorter period as a "bridge" player.

There is enough experience around with players like Brathwaite, Holder, Alzarri Joseph and Roach, to not have to worry about fielding numerous youngsters. It was proven recently down in Australia against the strongest team in the world, that if you are good enough, you are old enough. Roll with youth...

In reply to 4REALQUICKS

Totally agree with you. We keep carrying average players and not giving young players a chance to really develop because they sit around all year doing nothing,

I am still wondering why three young talented players like Mckenny Clarke, Ramon Simmons and Rivaldo Clarke continues to sit on the sidelines while less talented and players on the way out are playing each and every week. All this when we are trying to rebuild on all levels.

In reply to analyst-kid



Would struggle to make an Bangladeshi 3rd eleven.

In reply to seaegg99

So true...and such a shame...these young guys will lose interest if the opportunity is not presented.

some people have it some don't ,talent will only get you so far in any sport the best players are the ones who will put in the hard work to improve themselves brooks was thought of as prodigy as a teenager but never really lived up to that billing

Like wickham?

Wickham turned just 21 a couple of days ago. He already averages in the 40s in first class cricket and has made three red ball centuries. With ten times the experience, Brooks only managed 7 centuries. Fingers crossed he will build on that, considerably.

In reply to imusic

I was at providence about 12 years ago and some bajans were looking at a guyans bdos game

..one of them said 'dah bo brooks ine bring ppl baack o cricket'

Like so many he didn't kick on

What is good to see is the youngsters on the pitch outperforming the older players week after week.