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Why is he rated so highly?

ODI - averages 27 with the bat at a strike rate of 80 in 8 games
T20s - averages 57 with the bat at 168 SR (Excellent)

In FC and List A, he averages around 25 (mediocre)

Has taken a few wickets with the ball but batting is his stronger suite.

Now he's tipped to play one down for England in tests, with a 25 FC average?? like England following West Indies playbook?

In reply to brians_da_best

WI doesn't have a playbook, notes are scribbled on chefette napkins.

In reply to Curtis

In reply to Curtis

done know....de stick man has been filmed doing this many a time

I am looking forward to hearing about how Bethell does on the test team in comparison to say a Mykyle Louis or Athanaze in the WI.

In reply to brians_da_best

Because England have decided to pick players that in their opinion will excel at the highest level regardless of FC statistics. So far he isn’t doing too bad.

I remember when there was talk swirling around of Archer being inline for England there was also talk on this MB of him not being all that.

I suspect it will be the same with Bothell , he is only 21 years old and playing international cricket. He will gain lots of experience from just being the England dressing room and being in a professional environment year round will accelerate his progress in 2 years way beyond a west Indian "2 years".

In reply to Curtis

Stick-men are drawn. But, men gonna point you to Viv's FC avg when he debuted on tests as a co.parison with Beths.

In reply to Brerzerk
bethell aint viv. there was a trinidadian player who went to antigua to play combined islands. the tt coach was at pains to tell the side that whatever they did, don't hook andy roberts. so he went to the nets to have a practice and he saw viv in the nets hooking andy roberts. he went back to his coach and told him the best batsman in the world is an antiguan. viv had not played a test for the WI as yet

Bethell shaped up well in the cabibbean without having a big score .he will be tested in australia

In reply to PalsofMine

Wrong comparison, you should compare Myklye to the young Bim player Kevin Wickham.

I think too much time is spent discussing players who choose England over the West Indies

In reply to brians_da_best

It's simple England has a depth chart and WI has no depth hence they can afford strange decisions WI cannot!!!

In reply to hawk

Ditto

Maybe it is cause dem are bajans

In reply to tc1

Wickham is definitely on my A team squad along with Jewel, Nandu, Goolie and Jangoo.

In reply to tc1

quiet applause

In reply to TanteMerle

No they not.... Bajans represent Barbados and by extension the west indies, dem is Englishmen representing England
We should not concern ourselves with them, our focus should be our guys

In reply to brians_da_best

Few months back, Bethell stats were discussed in this forum....all in 20's..... But still England decided that Bethell superseded other batters with better average...that too in test cricket vital position 3.....

This thinking is nothing but Bazball thinking.... with a vision....top 7 batters in England team vs N.Z. ....two all rounders.....Bethell & Strokes....
Out of 4 bowlers....Woakes is proper batter.. Atkinson just scored a century and Carse has F.C average of 31...

Overall....in this match England playing with 6 proper bowlers and batting upto 10...great balance for any team.....be it test or ODI

Secondly, by putting Bethell at 3, McCullum wants to develop the youngster under tutelage of Roots...a playing mentor....we may criticise Roach as playing mentor.....but it's always has been like this.... getting on field guidance from senior pro.....works wonder....which almost all country follows....

If Bethell experiment fails, some other may come in..As was the case of Sam Curran...

Even Lara coached Bethell

Should be repping WI, Bethell Should.

Skin color didn't help in this case.

Archer and Jordan, another two that got away, for other reasons.

What alyuh have against Bajans????

In reply to Curtis

Bigger question might be what do Bajans have against representing Barbados.

In reply to Halliwell

Why don't you ask your siblings or relatives who moved away, why are they living and working abroad?

In reply to Halliwell

Some of them would not be selected for Barbados or Windies teams.
Some of them like the security of a county contract

In reply to Baje

I asked during this year CPL why Barbadian cricketers contracted and played on every team.
I am yet to get an answer

In reply to openning

I am sure I told you the reason is exposure. BCA indicated this long ago, that the aim is to Expose as many players as possible. not all can play for the pride at the same time


Also, consider players could be on loan to other teams as well, I don't think this is the case though.

In reply to Halliwell

comeen sudden pantymerle and (not you Powen the best poster from bim bar none)

In reply to hawk

Why are the other Islands not doing the same?
I was told that regional cricket is about Barbados players, having the most players playing at the academy and CCC.

In reply to ponderiver

because our first class system is not set up for players to make a good enough living, especially when one is playing for the west indies

In reply to openning

that is a question for the other Boards, they may ask for a quota system but I am not a fan we need the best players involved even if they come from one territory
my solution would be expanding the First Class league to 10 teams, single round (9 matches) with the free and complete movement of players followed by the 4 team Headley/Weekes trophy, West Indies A,B,C and D (another 3 matches)

Man say if you work in England you doctoring and engineering and nursing for the Trinidad team

In reply to Halliwell

Doesn't Jofra live in Barbados and travels to play for his second passport?

Bajans in IPL:

Jofra
Bethell
Salt

In reply to hawk

Fair enough point

In reply to ponderiver

I am actually enjoying the discussion

How you been though?

We would love to have all of our lads represent us...but its highly impractical.

We the fans want what we want and there is a carnal kind of reaction any time any of the players gets selected by others..in our case...England...the belly of the colonizers.

I find it interesting because of the historical triggers that ensue...while trying to balance it all out with the NEW world order of "getting while the getting is good"

Some posters still dont forgive the the South African tour players...but "understand" and embrace the Franchise set up.

It is not black and white but it does pull at the heart strings when its one of your own that you are "Happy" for yet you want to buss their rass on the cricekt field when they come up against us. LOLOLOL.


Bethel- the current subject - I have never met...but I knew his grandfather who was my Boss...its been a year since his passing...He was a gem of a man

I dont argue with the posters who get irked by it ( Barbadians who represent England)...it is our history...we own it but yes , deep down I wish we were rich enough and attractive enough to keep them all within our shore lines...But life these days is fast becoming BORDERLESS.

HOW is Europe?
When lasss yuh pass back a yard??

HA HA HA HA

In reply to ponderiver

Sodden is awaiting his monthly mail order bride catalogue...

He busy.

In reply to powen001

you living in 2024?

In reply to powen001

so am I

Hawk has made some great suggestions i fear though that as much as i believe in a meritocracy we might have to embrace a quota system as was the case in post apartheid South Africa

I am one of them but let me give you some context The rebel years coincided with my arrival as a youngster in Europe what i saw and experienced then greatly shaped my thinking
in my view any person of colour who desired to be close to that level of whiteness was as heinous as they come that some suffered was a tragedy especially people like Austin and Murray
Some remain unapologetic to this day ,that is nothing short of blasphemy .

. this requires a thread all by itself. . In a trumpian world that is heresy

Expensive and the situation in Palestine and Ukraine has exposed the hypocrisy and double standards that has long allowed the shameless shenanigans of the Chosen people and their supporters

there is a lot of sabre rattling going on by the Brits
In reality we are awaiting the next move of Putin and the Ayatollahs

I have been twice in the last year once with our daughter for the first time I/We loved loved it and cant wait to get back

England picked that guy early in his career before time to tie him up. Any thoughts of backtracking to Windies bridge get burn off.
So if he's the real deal they own that property if he ain't they will discard him easily to the England waste bin.

In reply to tc1

That’s the correct comparison, almost the very same age.

I personally believe Wickham is very much the more natural talented, but even right now he is by stymied in the BIM setup. There is nothing to learn there as he is already their best batsman. Certainly the best BIM has produced for 20 years on just natural ability.

Quite potentially Wickham can be the best batsman in the region, and this is no Bajan boast. The is also much to admire from Louis, Athanaze etc.

This is a kid who has been special from age 15. I’m however very very worried he will stagnate in the WI system.

In reply to Jumpstart

Yes. America is not and I repeat NOT THE WORLD.

In reply to ponderiver



To keep our best players playing in and for the west indies we must create opportunity for them to make a living
It is highly unlikely we will ever be rich enough but we can be smart and strategic enough
If we continue to throw our hands in the air and do nothing, the talent drain will persist

In reply to mkcharles

i agree entirely about Wickham. It is really a pity that there was no A tour in 2024 but I really hope that there will be one or even two (home and away) in 2025. I think it is important to have home A tours as well to sharpen our game on our own pitches. A dog should be bad at least in his own yard! As for the suggestion of more teams in the FC system, i have made the proposal of 3 tiers of FC red ball cricket every year, regional, Headley Weekes for best 42 players from regional and then A team for best 15 from Headley Weekes. I am a little concerned about just playing each other over and over when the standard is not high enough. It is really for the local boards to uncover new talent. Imagine TT will still be picking JaMo and Angel, both in their late 30s while young guys are not being given a chance. that could not be right for development of cricket. We should also consider regional school boy cricket (and football) with a league of champions being played at some time in the year in addition to the usual U-19 and U-17 competitions. the youth need that exposure if they are to mature into regional and international players

In reply to PalsofMine

Definitely more opportunities required. The Academy serves a purpose but only to a point. At age 24 should a Joshua Bishop be in such a set up or should he not be ready to make an impact on the international stage. This is just but a simple example. Why hasn’t he played before other spinners in BIM like Smith, Jones, Leacock, Cha Holder and whomever else gets a pick. Is it a case of him or Warrican?

The WI has limited resources, so we have to cherry pick the pool and get the very best playing together regularly and on organized tours where they can develop. Carty, Athanaze and these types now and before, are well past 25 before they even seem to be ready. How many of that winning ‘16 junior team have even made it at FC?

It would also seem that the resources are spread around now so everyone can partake. The reality is that everyone is not a FC player, let alone an international class player. A better job can be done on development. We have certainly not been producing the type of international class player that the region deserves.

Well, Bethell just scored his maiden test 50 on debut by scoring the winning run for England.

Bat on Bethell for your fifty, and then bring home the win. 50 in 37 balls, wow!

Bethell has a test avg of 60

In reply to culpepperboy

Obviously you’re too simple to understand sample sizes and the fact that he’s played 1 test match is irrelevant to you

In reply to brians_da_best

And you are to simple to enjoy a little satire.

But on Bethell those of us who saw him as a child...from age 10 for me....are not at all surprised by his elevation. He is a generational talent. It is regrettable that he chose to ply his trade elsewhere but i would not rubbish his potential for that fact.

We need to stop the exodus though. That means finding sustainable professional career paths for our cricketers. But given the current lack of fan support that push will have to initially come from our Caribbean governments and not the private sector

In reply to Logic

It is amazing all the talk here about Bajans plying their trade in Hingland.

I joined Barbados Police Service in 1985 and left for Bermuda in 1988.
When I came to Bermuda, my monthly/annual salary rivaled that of the COP in Barbados.
I cried many times over the next few months, missing my family and close acquaintances.

Many on this MB are not living in their country of birth for the same reason I left Bim.

Stop all the nonsense criticism about people who left their homes for a better living.
I am close to Archer's Step-father and a few years ago, I recommended that he try out for Hingland.
I am not saying that I had any influence on the decision, but I put in my 2 cents.

West Indies can only employ so many, and the others have a right to make monies.

What is important is for CWI to increase their cricket to be more competitive locally,
thus increasing the skill-sets of players.

I suggest: -
More first class cricket,
for example:
Push the Leewards and islands into more categories.
Antigua should go it alone for example.
Why not two first class competitions annually with a second tier system with promotion and relegation.

Why aren't we playing more A-Teams games?
Why aren't we playing more tests against the minnows, which is allowed outside the ICC scheduling?

In reply to TanteMerle

You iz a St Philip man Tante???

Thanks for the link Curtis.

In reply to Walco

Born n a car in Pennyhole on mi way ta de Destrick Horsepital in Oistins.

Lived in Rices fa mi furst 6 years.

Moved to Black Rock, save mi last 2 years of Secondary School,
when I lived my mi grandmerr in Content Cot, near Merricks.
I returned to Black Rock until leaving Bim fa Budmuda.

Mi now have a house in St. Philip and plan ta move back dey when I leave here.

I even played for Rices in the BCL leave one two occasions while on vacation a few years ago.

Short ansa, mi is a St Philip man.

In reply to TanteMerle

I like your idea of a 2 tier league regional league with promotion and relegation. Still we need money to get commitment from players. Recently government financed a Prime Minister's Cup for football with a $100K winners' prize. Not knocking football but it was the Bangla test series and the Guyana T20 Cup that was airing on TNT Sports. Cricket still has broader potential for professional careers for Caribbean people even though it has less commercial(and political) appeal

Compare bethell to mykle louis who looks like a more assured batsman? Wi fc cricket inflates how good these guys are