Watched this afternoon Jacob Bethell against Sri Lanka in their conditions. Seriously a generational talent. I'd say the best from our region since Brian Charles Lara. That yute can bat truly handle that willow.

So this is the question I asked myself. We've had white players in our time, Brendan Nash, Joshua Da Silva, Geoff Greenidge etc ...All were supporting acts to the main act.

What if Jacob Bethell did stay in the region and wore the maroon colours, are we mentally adaptable or capable to accept him as THE MAN. The main player where everything is built around?

@Raggs

Tek time champ are you fuh real...."best from our region since Brian Charles Lara" huh ....what about a certain Christopher Henry Gayle??....some of allyuh is get too giddy too quick ...heavens above!!!

@Raggs

Bethell looks a decent bat. Anyone who has the ability to score a Test Match hundred in Oz under pressure is no mug with the bat.

The only criticism I have after seeing him during the Ashes is that he plays a lot of shots in the air - especially through square and backward point areas. Teams will look at that feel they will always be in with a chance for a wicket.

@Raggs

if you are a great, you will be treated as a great. There is nothing in our history that suggest otherwise. Now he didn't choose West Indies so we must move on and discuss Andrews, Auguste, Athanze, Bidasse and Sampson.

Maybe he would not have been that good if he had stayed. It's all hypothetical as the man made the decision to move on.

Generational talent the man seh. Gayle and Lara belong to the same time period.

@Raggs

We’ve had Hetmyer & Pooran looked what we did to them!!!

There’s a plethora of talent in the WI unfortunately we’re unable to develop them!!!

Bethell could’ve easily played for the WI he was certainly earmarked early but it was a no brainer decision for him on where to choose!!!

@jamcricket

Time will tell but even Lara says he was better than him at the same age

@Raggs

He is that good that I'm convinced he would have made it even in the dysfunctional WI set up. But given the recent history of Barbados and Sammy's treatment of Da Silva his hopes of leading the team would be faint. He will almost certainly be a future England captain.

We are not healed enough or perhaps mature enough to cope with a white captain just yet....not even a supremely talented one

@Logic

I take issue with ur last paragraph....whilst i understand ur sentiments WE are not the ones that need to be healed....has England healed enough to consider ever having a black captain should one be in a position to be considered??....what have we ever done to whites to consider needing to be healed??....CWI would select a white captain in a heartbeat if there was one available an good enough to be considered.....if anything we need to heal the insularities amongst us!

@CCW

This might surprise you but if England find themselves with a Gary Sobers kind of talent. Charismatic enough to sell himself as a brand he would be appointed.

@jamcricket

more like tokenism even if he was a sensation but on average no chance!

@CCW

what have we ever done to whites to consider needing to be healed??

You got things ass-backwards. You need to be healed when someone has wounded you, not when you have wounded someone.

If England and others dont reward a black player on merit that's probably due to racism.....and that's their cross to bear.

I was addressing why after historically getting the short end of the stick we may not be disposed to allowing the descendants of our past tormentors to take the reins

@Logic

Time will tell but even Lara says he was better than him at the same age

Quite interesting, indeed. I think when folks hear that comment, they think that when someone is better than a great one at a young age, then automatically, that youngster can only go higher and higher...we all know... that's not the only route... if anything, the pressure is ON.

PS. The fact that Bethell did not pick/play for West Indies... there is no point in pontificating if he did would we have built our batsmen around him.... that's a complete waste of discussion and time.

@Logic

@Logic

I under stand your sentiment an how it could be misconstrued but my point is evidently we are healed an have been for many years otherwise the likes of Nash an D'silva to name but two might not have been given their opportunity an i seriously don't think there would be an outcry if a white player became captain....look how a certain PM was purring with pride about Bethell an likewise many country men (even some within this forum)...does that sound like we are not healed or maybe not enough....gimme a break!!!