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Lacking vision at the U-19 level, more overseas tours needed
Dear Editor,
The last time a West Indies Under-19 Cricket team engaged equal opponents in an Under-19 International Youth Test was 2001 when the Brentnol Parchment led Regional Under-19 youngsters toured the United Kingdom. That was the sixth visit by the regional youngsters.
The Inaugural tour July of 1970 culminated in the development of Larry Gomes, Herbert Chang, David Murray to the Test ranks and Richard Gabriel who played at the ODI level. The Second visit in 1974 saw the establishment of Wayne Daniel, Jeffrey Dujon and Richard Austin.
When the youngsters toured the United Kingdom for the third time August of 1978, Carlisle Best and Winston Davis were the players from that series that when on to wear the maroon cap for the region at the Test and ODI level.
The broadening of the Regional Under-19 promising stars horizon continued July of 1982. The fourth outing by the Regional Under-19 to the UK produced Test players – Roger Harper, David Williams, Philip Simmons and Courtney Walsh – while Robert Haynes just missed the boat. He donned the maroon cap at the ODI level.
After an eleven year drought the Regional Under-19 babes returned to the UK July of 1993. This series saw the emergence of the indomitable Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Others from this tour that went on to play Test cricket were: Colin Stuart, Rawle Lewis, Mervyn Dillon and Dinanath Ramnarine.
The last tour in 2001 produced Test payers Devon Smith, Narsingh Deonarine, Jermaine Lawson, Brentnol Parchment, Carlton Baugh Jr and Ryan Austin, while Patrick Brown played at the ODI level.
Because of the WICB’s lack of vision, several players including Marlon Samuels, Ryan Hinds, Denesh Ramdin, Sylvester Joseph, Donovan Pagon and Sewnarine Chattergoon went on to play Test cricket without even playing for the West Indies in an international youth Test. The West Indies from 1974 to date have only contested 35 youth Test matches – 25 against England, 6 against Pakistan and 4 verses Australia.
We never engaged India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zimbabwe or Bangladesh at matches of three or more days at the Under-19 level.
Could this Board be serious about development?
Charwayne Walker
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