Vincentian fast bowler out, then back in Windwards Under-19 Cricket squad

The non-selection of Vincentian Under-19 fast bowler Solomon Bascombe by the selection panel of the Windward Islands Cricket Board, seems to have not gone down well in some quarters. The St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), right-arm fast bowler was omitted from the sub-region’s Under-19 cricket squad to compete in the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Under-19 cricket tournament, currently being played here in SVG, but was subsequently re-instated.

A Windward Islands Cricket Board press release dated July 2, 2023, and posted on the Windward Volcanoes Facebook page stated that “The squad was struck a major blow when highly rated fast bowler Solomon Bascombe was ruled out of the tournament with a finger injury.”

The release was issued two days after Bascombe was seen bowling in a practice session in the Arnos Vale nets on Friday, June 30, without any outward indication of being hampered by injury.

Inquiries revealed that Bascombe sustained an injury to the right little finger about three weeks before the start of the 2023 Regional Rising Stars Under-19 cricket tournament which is being hosted by St Vincent and the Grenadines.

A Windward Islands Cricket Board source told SEARCHLIGHT that following this injury and without any further inquiries, Bascombe was omitted from the Windward Islands Under-19 squad. The source added that it took the intervention of a WICB official to have Bascombe back in the squad.

It was learnt that Bascombe visited a doctor on June 20, and as a result of an X-Ray done on the injured finger, was advised to rest; however, a second visit on June 28, cleared him for play, and at training on Friday, June 30, Bascombe was seen bowling at full stretch in the nets, displaying no signs of discomfort from the finger injury. The Windwards Board officials were privy to the medical reports, the source said.

Two days later, on Sunday, July 2, when his father went to take additional gear for his son, he found the teenager in tears outside the Arnos Vale nets. The reason –Bascombe had just been informed by team officials that he was axed from the squad. The release by the Windwards Board was issued later that day. The full Windward Islands squad for the 2023 Regional Rising Stars Under-19 cricket championships is: Reshawn Lewis, Solomon Bascombe, Kirtney Franklin, Divonie Joseph, Stephan Pascal, Ackeem Auguste, Jerel Jeremiah, Kirt Murray, Tarrique Edward, Bolton Sayers, Jerlani Joseph, Kevin Gassie, Devon Tyson, Noel Leo, and Divone Joseph.

The reserves are -: Devonte McDowell, Shawnil Edwards, Kyron Phillip, Royce Paul, Theo Edward, and Luke Wilson. The Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Under-19 cricket tournament opened on July, 4 and will run until August, 2, here in SVG.