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Reds struggles to comprehend player’s lack of commitment to WI cricket
By Sean Devers
Seventy-six year-old Guyanese radio commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira says he is struggling to comprehend the lack of interest in representing their Country in Tests by many of the top West Indies players who prefer to ply their trade in several t20 leagues around the world.
Reds holds Windies cricket close to his heart.
Reds, who has commentated in 145 Test matches, spoke with Kaieteur Sports from his adopted home in St Lucia.
“When I saw the headline on cricinfo that West Indies Coach Phil Simmons was frustrated, I just couldn’t understand what the story was all about. As I read further on, I was somewhat surprised about the point he was making that a number of West Indian players, were playing in the on-going big bash and not available for the West Indies in this present Test series,” explained the veteran Radio commentator who has followed West Indies cricket since the 1950s.
“Simmons was quoted as saying “it’s great to see Russell bowling at 145 ticks.” But Simmons seemed to be unaware that this excellent West Indian all rounder had told the chairman of the West Indies selection panel that his body could not take five days of Test cricket, and he would like simply play the shorter format,” said Reds.
Reds has seen the ups and downs of West Indies cricket including the glory days throughout the 1980’s to the mid 90s when the once invincible team did not lose a single Test series for 15 years, so it must very hard for him to watch this West Indies team being battered down under by the Australians.
“Russell was in Clive Lloyd’s plans to play the role of England’s Freddy Flintoff. His reference to Gayle being successful in the big bash, did not reflect that Gayle himself, who is recovering from a back surgery is hoping to be fit for Test cricket in 2016. His reference to Bravo who has quit test cricket and has not played for T&T for the last four years at the First-Class level was also puzzling,” the bemused Guyanese continued.
Reds said when Sammy was the captain of the West Indies it was not possible for the selectors to include Bravo as the balance of the side would have been wrong unless they were prepared to pick him as a front line batsman.
“But were the stats there to back that selection? On the question of Bravo, I honestly see him as a possible selection for the ODI’s in June of 2016 in the Tri-nation series with South Africa and Australia,” stated Reds, the head of OECS Sports Desk headquartered in St Lucia for 12 years.
Other surprising news to Reds was West Indies Test Captain Jason Holder deciding to sign for the Pakistan 20/20, against not playing for Barbados when the Four-Day competition resumes in February since players are expected to depart the Caribbean on January 29.
“One would think that as a West Indies Captain you should be the first to show commitment towards uplifting our First-Class game, which is the only way the WICB will ever be able to attract a much needed sponsor,” lamented Reds.
“If I may turn back the clock for a brief moment when Garry Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Lance Gibbs and Wesley Hall played in Australia and others later, they all returned in time to play in the West Indies’ First-Class season, thus making it the toughest first class competition in the world then,” Reds added.
“At present my information is that our players are being paid higher than South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh and a decent living can be made by our West Indian players.”
“It is disappointing that so many have choosen to go off to Bangladesh, while recognizing their right to choose one, would have thought that their Country, which had given that intial exposure to International cricket would have been their choice,” Reds concluded.
But sadly for Caribbean fans that’s not the case.
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