West Indies coach Daren Sammy says there will be a serious discussion around Kraigg Brathwaite's position ahead of the Jamaica Test, while remaining hopeful that his struggling batting group can find a way to back up the performances of the fast bowlers following a series-conceding defeat to Australia in Grenada.
West Indies were bundled for 143 in the fourth innings, chasing 277 to win, on the fourth day with the margin of victory flattered slightly by Shamar Joseph's late-innings hitting in the same manner it was in the first Test in Barbados.
The hosts' top order was against steamrolled by Australia's relentless fast-bowling cartel, slumping to 33 for 4 at lunch on the fourth day. But while West Indies' top-order struggles have mirrored Australia's, the middle and lower-order were unable to rescue them as Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood ripped the game away in a six-over burst in the middle session to leave West Indies 99 for 7 and without a recognised batter left.
Sammy acknowledged that there was pressure on former captain Brathwaite, who is the only West Indies batter not to reach double-figures in the series to date. His 100th Test was a forgettable one, with scores of just 0 and 7 following 4 and 4 in Barbados. Brathwaite averages 18.68 in his last 35 Test innings with just three half-centuries.
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In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
I said this once and I'll say it again; it was selfish of both player and board to continue to pursue 100 tests even though Brathwaite's record is poor and has been poorer of the more recent. Playing 100 test for this player was more important than doing what was best for the team. If anybody has a business and you have an employee which is underperforming, are you going to keep him or her around just for sentiment even though you're losing both profit and productivity, the answer is no. What ever happened to Kyle Mayers who averages 32.70 with the bat across 18 matches with 210 being his highest on debut against Bangladesh in Bangladesh with spinning conditions. At least you would have someone who could actually beat the shine off the ball with his aggressive playing style before getting out. This would in turn allow for the middle order to not become exposed to the new ball but a relatively beat up ball that has lost its shine. What happen to N Bonner who averages 38.20 across 15 matches with the highest score of 123. Both of these individuals have 2 hundreds to their names. We are not fielding our best batsmen in the region. We are fielding teams based on partiality and I dear say a fair bit of cronyism as well.
In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
Sarwan and gayle virtually had their test careers ended for less than kraigg's talentless-induced incompetence(yes i know gayle came back but he was nowhere as good as before he was exiled in test cricket). lets not pretend is the rewarding of talentless servants that has us in the position we are in and kraigg aint the only one.
In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
Average 18 after 35 test. Tell mih now, which other batter would keep his place after 35 test averaging 18. Sigh.
In reply to wknight
Cannot argue with that.
