“West Indies Test cricket team – Focusing on what we do have!”

May 31, 2015 Sports

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Colin E. H. Croft

That headline was paraphrased from a United States Marines Corp recruiting advertisement in which a magnificently fit Master Sergeant suggests: “In the Marines, we do not worry about what we do not have. We focus on what we do have to get the job done!”
So it must be with West Indies cricket team to play against Australia later this week, with the absence of Shivnarine Chanderpaul after over 21 years of incumbency.
All good things too must come to an end. So let it be with Shiv!
But, judging from that last Test against England last month which showed that with tenacity, determination and guts, any cricket team, including WI, lowly rated as they are, could beat any other team; and recently concluded WICB President’s XI drawn game against the Aussie tourists, who exactly does WI Test team have for the upcoming two Tests against the Aussies?
While the resurrection of the President’s XI has been lauded, one of the primary reasons for its past existence was to highlight up-and-coming peripheral players who could, in the not-too-distant future, become viable place-holders in WI Test teams proper.
When fast bowlers Joel Garner, Norbert Philip and Colin Croft were selected for President’s XI against Pakistan in 1976/77, none of us thought that we had any chance whatsoever of playing Test cricket that year.
Just before that tour, in 1976, Michael Holding, Wayne Daniel and Andy Roberts, ably abetted by Bernard Julien, Vanburn Holder and Collis King, had terrorized England almost to death after its captain, Tony Greig, had suggested that “he and England would make West Indies grovel!”
Ironically, by the time Pakistan arrived in the Caribbean in 1976/77, Holding and Daniel were injured. After President’s XI had beaten Pakistan in St. Lucia, with Joel and me getting most of the wickets, we were selected, out of the blue, to play in that historic 1st Test in Barbados; our first.
We did not do too badly and the rest is now history but it also showed that anything can happen!
Another useful aspect of President’s XI’s in years gone by was to give actual, regular Test players, those who were somewhat rusty or not fully on the ball, a chance to get themselves settled and into proper rhythm to get many wickets or gazillions of runs, at least to get some sort of form.
Alvin Kallicharran, an absolutely integral part of WI’s batting line-up in 1976/77, was WICB’s President XI’s captain v Pakistan. He was selected to get quick form, and to lead a young team, perhaps with future situations in mind. He got runs in President’s XI and then in the Tests too.
So, WICB’s present selectors, while praised for foresight of reintroducing the obvious importance of the President’s XI, erred somewhat with their selections for that game last week v Australia.
Especially Kemar Roach should have been given a chance for long spells at the Aussies before Test No. 1 starts in Dominica on Wednesday, as he looked badly out of shape and out of pace against England. In two Tests, he had only five wickets, each costing 53.00 runs, from 78 overs.
Opener Shai Hope too should have been allowed to play against the Aussies last week. If he is to make runs, he must face them eventually.
There is nothing like confidence that comes with runs and WI badly needs another regular opening batsman to go with Kraigg Brathwaite.
Now that yet another opener, Rajindra Chandrika, has made 74 v the Aussies, and pugnacious wicket-keeper batsman Shane Dowrich also made two half-centuries; 78 and 53 not out; in that game, do not be surprised if one of these, or both, are included in WI’s squad for Test No. 1.
Faster bowler Carlos Brathwaite too, with 50 and three wickets against the Aussies, could also be in for a wonderful surprise. He is improving with every delivery, his body seemingly becoming better attuned to being a good all-rounder. He certainly could put pressures on Roach’s place.
Shannon Gabriel did not look too badly against England, but he, like Roach, needs much work too. Batsmen worth their salt know that bowlers cannot simply bowl only a few overs fast. Fast bowlers are exactly that, expected to bowl quickly, even if it is in the final session of Day 5!
Jerome Taylor leads the fast bowling pack and looked good, if not fast, against England, while towering Jason Holder, that tremendously talented bowling all-rounder, seems to be understanding his roll more precisely as every day of his budding international career occurs.
Only one of orthodox leg-spinner Veerasammy Permaul or right-arm leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo would probably play in Test No. 1, but would that not be special if WI selectors allow both to operate in tandem?
Between them, they could guarantee fifty runs per innings at the crease and six wickets per innings with the ball too, so why not!
Captain and wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin, improving Jermaine Blackwood, veteran Marlon Samuels and still unfulfilled Darren Bravo must certainly play, expecting to do even better against the vaunted Aussies. Simply, WI must focus on what we have! Enjoy!

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