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.

Finding a captain that can make the XI on merit is the more pressing issue.

JDS should be in the team, maybe even batting at 5.

@sgtdjones

Or is he paying for past sins when skin colour determined who captained the West Indies cricket team?

current sin

@sgtdjones

Josh has done more than enough AGAIN to regain his spot in dis weak ass WI team.

Nastiness and spitefulness continue in WI cricket

@voiceofreason

Take your head out of Sammy's ass.

Josh should be the first batsman selected.

@openning

This has nothing to do about Sammy but about this great excitement for a mediocre batsman and glovesman. Like some injustice has been done to him. Outside of his double century against a weak- ass Leewards attack featuring Oshame what else has he done?

70, 14, 0, 11

Just another mediocre player. Enough already! I surprised you lobbying for mediocrity.

Jayden sledged Imlach , ask yourself why.

Not hearing any calls for anyone else but Josh as h=if he is some Savior.

@voiceofreason

And what about last year as the second highest run getter?

Guess that does not count

The issue you is you must match him up against his contenders and see who is better

Also all other baters in the West Indies test team except one or two has around the same average as Josh so why single out him.

And why not at least the A team?

Its obvious to all except the most simple of brains with the lowest of IQs that there is a vendetta against Josh.

@voiceofreason

Not hearing any calls for anyone else but Josh as h=if he is some Savior.

At the moment Josh is the candidate to fill the WK position... He'd have never been dropped, but has Harp via sgtd alluded to, there is possibility that the color of one skin determine their selection in the WIT under mediocrity Sammy... Shameful to say the least///

@Narper

Josh has done more than enough AGAIN to regain his spot in dis weak ass WI team.

Nastiness and spitefulness continue in WI cricket

remember the coach was a beneficiary of the nastiness and spitefulness tht destroyed the team of Christopher Henry Gayle(OD) and in the process of doing so destroyed ramnaresh sarwan's career, a man who had scored 626 runs vs eng the year before ted laso took over, ended dwayne bravo's test career, demoralized Jerome taylor, the most naturally gifted west indian quick since holding, so thoroughly that he only reappeared in 2014, five years after a back strain injury(which back strain takes you out for five years?) and has a direct correlation to the mess the team is in now. a team that was making quantifiable progress

1. first WI team in 13 years to not lose in NZ
2. first WI team in 11 years to win a wisden trophy series
3. gave australia thunder later in 2009 and had a very good chance of drawing if billy bowden didn't curse the cricketing world by being an umpire
4. drew a series vs SL in 2007 we were widely expected to get beaten senseless in. sarwan scored one of the most skillful hundreds ever vs murali and vaas to win the match

Joshua Da Silva should definitely regain his place on the West Indies Test team. Furthermore, one could even make the argument he should be captain. It's time to be more strategic and less myopic in our decision making.

@Narper

and i find we shouldn't even be having this discussion because sammy should have submitted his resignation after 27 all out. and if not, he and pretty boy floyd aka Mr Diminishing Returns should have been thanked for their services and let go.

@Narper

Or is he paying for past sins when skin colour determined who captained the West Indies cricket team?

My history of West Indies cricket is of a short duration, when I read the above, I did a bit of research and saw a period where the team was captained by individuals of such hue.

CLR James returned to Trinidad from in 1958, he became the editor of The Nation, the political mouthpiece of the People's National Movement. He immediately utilized his platform to mount a relentless public press campaign demanding that Frank Worrell be named captain for the upcoming 1960 tour of Australia.

The Argument: James argued that denying Worrell the captaincy was not a sporting decision, but a rejection of the intellectual and leadership capabilities of Black West Indians.

The Strategy: He mobilized public sentiment, famously writing that continuing to prefer white captains of lesser playing ability over world-class Black players was an insult to the emerging independent nations of the Caribbean.

I wonder what would be his sentiments to the treatment afforded Da Silva today?

@pariaman

Jahmar Hamilton scored big last season but I am yet to hear anyone call for his inclusion over Imlach or Josh. He played one freakin test. A matter of fact he scored a century vs TNT bowling lineup so compare that to Josh for a minute.