Whether the younger cricketers are selected to play or not there is a low level of commitment to West Indies cricket overall and some action had to be taken to try to retain some form of respect for the sport thorough commitment from players.
Dwayne Bravo, Christopher Gayle, and Kieron Pollard have their interests in other entities and it is not quite certain if their future would be closely attached playing cricket for the West Indies. How could Bravo miss out on two vital test matches coming up against Pakistan especially when these matches are going to be played on Caribbean soil?
Kieron Pollard is playing in the IPL and the West Indies are preparing to play a major series against Pakistan. Gayle and Bravo missed out on the regional Twenty20 this year because they were both playing cricket in Australia.
How possibly can a rebuilding and struggling squad progress with all these absentism of some key players? Ramneresh Sarwan definitely should have been in the one-day squad and should be named in the test squad as well. Shivnarine Chanderpaul should focus on test matches only and he must be let off Twenty20 and one-day internationals.
Test Squad Will Be Difficult To Choose
West Indies selectors must be very careful in choosing the squad for the upcoming test series with Pakistan. Chanderpaul, Sarwan and Jerome Taylor must be included for the test matches.
The selectors must ensure that experience is not compromised at this test level. It is necessary to bring back the experienced Taylor, a fast bowler from Jamaica, who has served West Indies cricket very well. It must be remembered that he has a test century. He is off the injury list and Clyde Butts and company should ensure that he returns.
Kemar Roach has suffered for too long without a genuine back up experienced quickie. Two accurate quick bowlers are vital in any test match in spite of the conditions.
The West Indies selectors must be ready to have seven specialist batsmen and four specialist bowlers, the time for make shift bowlers is over. Four bowlers must take the responsibility of picking up 20 wickets in a match as a winning task.
Batting Consultant
Former West Indies opening batsman Desmond Haynes was appointed a batting consultant of the West Indies senior team for the Digicel home series 2011. Haynes has played 116 tests scoring 7,487 runs at an average of 42.29 and he scored 18 centuries. He played 238 one-day internationals scoring 8,648 runs at an average of 42.37 and he scored 17 centuries.
