Trinidad & Tobago and West Indies medium fast bowler Ravi Rampaul has so far picked up 12 wickets in the Champions League Twenty20 2011 series.
Rampaul has cemented himself with international ratings for his clever and sensible bowling tactics in the competition. He has deceived many top players with his bowling, which carries appreciably variation and uneven bounce. Batsmen have been constantly deceived by his athletic run-up and then he drops the slower ball or yorker. Rampaul’s arm action contributes significantly to him taking wickets.
Rampaul Has Been Good For Windies Too
The home series for the West Indies against Pakistan and India has been good for Rampaul because he bowled splendidly picking up wickets frequently. He has become a permanent fixture in the West Indies Test, O.D.I. and Twenty 20 teams.
Chris Gayle Must Return To The Squad
Most players, if not all, are eager to do well for the West Indies. However, the West Indies Cricket Board and its selectors must understand that Chris Gayle and Jerome Taylor are very important to West Indies cricket especially at this stage. Experience counts and looking at the West Indies teams to Bangladesh, only three or four players have really proven to be classified as experienced players. They are Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels and Fidel Edwards. Denesh Ramdin is now returning to the team after a long stretch. The key position is the opening one.
The big question is if Adrian Barath is ready to take on the senior role in the opening position for the West Indies. Chris Gayle and Adrian Barath should be the opening batsmen. Gayle’s experience is vital to the development of the West Indies team at this stage.
Young players in the team will benefit with their approach and confidence looking at how Gayle plays. Fast bowler Jerome Taylor who has a Test century to his name remains an asset to West Indies cricket. Valuable players must not be ignored because of petty reasons.
Four-Prong Pace Attack
The possibility exits that the West Indies can return to the four pacers in a Test match. Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Jerome Taylor, and Kemar Roach. The specialist batsmen would be able to hold their own, for with a balanced bowling and batting short comings from either entity would be easily repaired.
A cricket team needs balance but at the moment, the West Indies team has no balance. A few players are ready and willing with their potentials but they are uncertain in which direction West Indies cricket is heading. Every possible effort must be made to have the best team on the field. The return of Denesh Ramdin is a welcome step in the right direction.
