Who did Joshua Da Silva offend?

Not wanting to be a spoilsport or rain on the parade of euphoria, success, and elation currently embracing Trinidad and Tobago cricket, there is one thing that has troubled me for a while, and this is as good a time as any to raise it.​Why has Joshua Da Silva fallen so far out of favour with Cricket West Indies (CWI)? He has gone from being considered a potential West Indies captain to a non-factor where the CWI selection panel is concerned. ​Is it that Da Silva spoke out of turn to the media (April 28, 2025 edition of the Trinidad Newsday)? Or is he paying for past sins when skin colour determined who captained the West Indies cricket team? We moved past that era with Sir Frank Worrell. However, is it that there are those who feel deep down that Da Silva, for non-cricket reasons, should never captain the regional side?

​It was noticeable that, following the conclusion of the West Indies Championship, when the individual awards were announced, the category Da Silva had an excellent chance of winning eluded him. Those in the know claim it is the first time "most dismissals" weren't used. ​What is truth? What is fiction? What is a figment of one's imagination? It could even be a touch of insularity. However, one cannot help but wonder: who did Joshua Da Silva offend?

​If you look at the batting averages of those who have maintained the confidence of head coach Daren Sammy and the selectors, it makes for interesting reading–as do the West Indies Championship statistics since 2024. ​Regardless of how harsh and difficult his banishment to the CWI wilderness may be, Da Silva has led T&T with class and dignity, responding to his critics and doubters as a true leader would.

TIME FOR DA SILVA RETURN

Gray sees few changes for Sri Lanka Test series

Based on the recently concluded Four-Day Championship, not many changes are likely to be made to the West Indies Test team for the two-match series against Sri Lanka. Former Trinidad and Tobago Red Force selector and CWI scout Tony Gray has come to this conclusion. “Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip have brought back a higher level of fast-bowling standards in the Caribbean, other than that, nothing has changed,” Gray told the Express yesterday.Fast bowlers Seales and Phillip were both in the Windies side that lost 2-0 away to New Zealand in its last series in the World Test Championship in December.

However, Gray does see a return for triumphant Red Force skipper Joshua Da Silva. Wickekeeper/batter Da Silva was the competition’s leading scorer with 413 runs at an average of 59.00 and also had the most dismissals (15). WI incumbent, Harpy Eagles skipper Tevin Imlach had a quiet tournament with the bat, totalling 184 runs and averaging 26,28. Imlach also had 13 dismissals and was named the Best Wicketkeeper because of a higher number of dismissals per innings.

And while the structure of the Championship did not allow for players to showcase themselves fully, Gray was impressed with the way the Red Force went about winning the title.“They were the team to beat. I thought they played excellent cricket right the way through,” he said. Former selector Gray added that Red Force now have a structure to get more four-day success.“The selectors did an excellent job. I saw no weakness at all... “Rayad Emrit has proven himself as a good coach... and they have some excellent young talents coming through.”

@sgtdjones

All of this effort for 24 + average test batsman and average glovesman. I am now beginnng to believe that Jayden's sledge of Tevin was about Josh.