Latest update December 19th, 2024 3:22 AM
Apr 17, 2014 Sports
Says veteran cricket commentator Reds Perrier
By Sean Devers
The current West Indies selection panel has had its term extended by two months but International cricket commentator Guyanese Joseph ‘Reds’ Perrier feels the new selection panel, which will not begin their work until September, should have been given the opportunity to start afresh and pick the teams for the home series against New Zealand which starts on June 12 with the first Test in Jamaica.
The current two-year term of the Clyde Butts-chaired panel would have expired at the end of this month but the short extension of the term of Butts, Courtney Browne and Robert Haynes, according to the WICB, was to allow for the appraisal system of the selectors to be completed.
A packed schedule of travel and work in recent months had not allowed for the process to be completed. The WICB explained the extension was also to allow “for continuity in selections for both the West Indies men’s and women’s teams for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 in September in Sri Lanka”.
The WICB said a further decision on the future composition of the selection panel will be taken at the next meeting of the board of directors in September.
But the 75-year-old Perrier feels the new panel should not have to drop players they did not pick for the Bangladesh series scheduled to commence on August 20 in Grenada with the first ODI.
“It would be counter-productive for Butts and Company to pick the team for the New Zealand series and then the new committee picks the team for the Bangladesh after the series would have started in August,” Perrier opined.
“I understand the three selectors have all been re-nominated by their respective Boards but the WICB has done interviews with other people. Lockhart Sebastian, who was nominated twice by the Windward’s Board but has never gotten on, is one of those interviewed,” disclosed the veteran Broadcaster.
Reds said the Butts selection committee has not done a good job and failed to bring on players. “They have not seen Jason Holder as a Test player and missed an opportunity to bring in (Miguel) Cummins after an outstanding ‘A’ team tour to India. Any forward thinking selection panel would have replaced the Injured (Kemar) Roach for the tour of India,” said Reds.
The St Lucia based Perreira said after the disappointing series in India where they lost twice in two days, they had no forward plans for changes for the New Zealand tour and sent the same team.
“They should have looked at mainly the fast bowling department and applied well ahead of time for visas to enter New Zealand. In New Zealand conditions the ball swings and seams, yet we picked (Tino) Best and (Sheldon) Cotterell. Sunil Narine who took 6-21, was only picked because of the suspension of Shane Shillingford,” Perreira, who has commentated in 146 Tests, revealed.
The commentator, who broadcasted his last Test in Antigua when New Zealand last came to the West Indies, feels the left-arm spinners Suleiman Benn or Niketa Miller should have been in the squad for the recent T20 series to further enhance our ability to take wickets which was left to Narine and Badree.
“I am hearing Nehemiah Perry’s name is also in the mix while I believe Browne should be appointed the Chairman with two other new selectors” Reds concluded.
Dec 19, 2024
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