It is time WI cricket rise and challenge for the number one spot

Editor: There has and continues to be much discussion on the state of West Indies cricket, the performance and future of the West Indies cricket team. While I don’t wish, just yet, to elaborate on the aforementioned points, I wish to bring to the surface a few observations.{{more}}

Considering the current performances of the present West Indies team, it is highly likely that they would lose badly in the one-day series against Pakistan. When that becomes a reality, it means that West Indies will not be an automatic choice in the top eight teams that will take part in 2019 World Cup. This situation will further deepen the shame on the West Indies cricket team. It will cause many persons to lose interest in West Indies cricket. Be that as it may, we, as West Indians, still support the West Indies team and hope for the best.

It would seem like the selectors are bent on destroying the West Indian cricketers who are just finding their way. This statement would be denied by the selectors. Come to think of it, Jason Holder was thrown the captaincy at a stage when he was just emerging. He had not yet cemented his place. Here is a budding all-rounder given such a responsibility at such a tender age with a team that needs building and developing and not with a winning team.

What this is doing to the young man is spoiling his future as a cricketer. Of course, he has already been given warnings to perform by the chief selector. I am afraid the burden of captaincy at such a young age and for someone who never captained any major team, would have an effect upon him. If the team was doing well, it would have boosted his confidence and his performances would have improved; but with a losing team, it plays on him psychologically and would affect his performances. Thus, we are on the verge of losing another cricketer who has the potential for being a great all-rounder.

As if seeking to destroy Jason Holder were not enough, here comes Carlos Braithwaite. This man had not even established himself yet. Just because he hit four consecutive sixes it appears that the selectors and the board feel that he has arrived and thus thrust the captaincy of the T20 side upon him. Well, we all know the history. It has been the worst performance ever by a West Indies T20 team. The poor guy’s performance also left much to be desired and so did his leadership. Soon, he will continue to decline and would be made a castaway. Such a pity, a cricketer with so much potential going to waste. Of course, when he plays as a non-captain he performs better.

Shai Hope was already written about. Today, we see that he is hoping to regain his spot on the West Indies team. Poor fella, he was entrusted with the responsibility of opening because I guess the selectors wanted to give him a spot on the team and so he was forced into a position which does not help his performance.

These persons I believe, will be affected psychologically and though they have talent that can be developed, it is going to waste, like so many other budding West Indian cricketers.

Indeed, something got to be wrong with the thinking of the selectors and the board. Interestingly, they are all Barbadians and the chief selector is a Bajan. Interesting indeed. What a way to be destructive and even more so your own fellow countrymen and West Indies cricket. I guess Mr Courtney Browne will be able to defend his position as the chief selector.

It is time West Indies cricket rise and challenge for the number one spot. Interestingly, when we were climbing the ladder, the captain was changed and discarded. What a pity. West Indies cricket is sweet, eh.

Kennard King