West Indies selectors recalled 33-year-old Devon Sheldon Smith to tour South Africa after Chris Gayle pulled out of the Test series. Smith who was born in Grenada played 33 Tests scoring one century against England at Sabina Park in Jamaica. Smith will be hoping to build on his weak record. It will be testing for Smith returning to Test cricket after his last Test match in 2011 against Pakistan.
SAMUEL BADREE SHOULD PLAY TEST CRICKET
Trinidad and Tobago’s right-arm spinner Samuel Badree who plays only Twenty20 cricket for the West Indies should be introduced to Test cricket. Badree is a wicket taker and a very skillful one. The West Indies tour of South Africa should have included players that are new to the Test arena. Despite the quick wickets in South Africa, a clever spinner can cause chaos for batsmen.
Sulieman Benn is the only recognised spinner on tour. While Marlon Samuels bowls very well in One-day International and Twenty20 he should not be used much in Test because he will be batting at number three. Tremaine Blackwood, the middle-order batsman who has shown some class as a batsman, should not be forced into too much off-break bowling.
Two specialist spinners for the Test matches should have been named for this tour of South Africa. The West Indies cannot compare with the South African pace attack.
WEST INDIES ITINERARY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Dec 11 to 21: First Test match
in Centurion
Dec 26 to 30: Second Test match
in Port Elizabeth
Jan 2 to 6: Third Test match in
Cape Town
Jan 9: First Twenty20 in
Cape Town
Jan 11: Second Twenty20 in
Johannesburg
Jan 14: Third Twenty20 in Durban
Jan 16: First ODI in Durban
Jan 18: Second ODI in
Johannesburg
Jan 21: Third ODI in east London
Jan 25: Fourth ODI in Port
Elizabeth
Jan 28: Fifth ODI in Centurion
West Indies Vs England
April 13-17: First Test match in
Antigua
April 21-25: Second Test match
in Grenada
May 1-5: Third Test match in
Barbados
