West Indies cricket team

EDITOR: West Indies cricket once again. In a matter of days, we would be engaging in the ICC World cup. Most Caribbean cricket loving fans do not have much hope of them reaching far. However, as true Caribbean cricket lovers we would hope for the best and still rally around the West Indies.

A closer look at its recent performance have shown that they do not play together as a unit.

When the bowling is clicking, the batting fails miserably. Now, in its last two tours and in particular, the series against South Africa, we have seen an improved batting performance, but a declension in the bowling to the point that it is horrible.

There are many areas that need developing and looked at, and there are many critics of the team and many who offer suggestions.

Their performances however, have never given anyone any hope. One of the errors amongst many is the selection of the team. The captain is not the right one for this format. Players like Johnson Charles should not be on the team. It would seem he has passed his best. His place should have been taken either by Evin Lewis or Alick Althanaze who we know can play spin well and so would add strength to the middle order to deal with the many spinners that each team would have against the West Indies since they know that spin is West Indies’ weak point.

In the bowling section it is hard to understand how Shamar Springer is not selected. He should have been selected ahead of Shamar Joseph who seems not to able to bowl economically in this format, or Matthew Forde who up to the last match has failed to be effective.

No wonder the bowling is not effective, since they have selected the wrong bowlers and those who may have shown control and effectiveness are left out.

These aforementioned points have brought into focus Darren Sammy as an all format coach and the lone selector. It would seem that he is the one calling the shots in terms of the selection of players and captains. But Sammy has been given all this long rope by the administrators of CWI, that is why calls have been made for their removal.

I am of the opinion that following the World Cup, many heads would roll. Let us however, rally around the West Indies and wish them all the best.

Kennard King