WEST INDIES v AUSTRALIA THREE-TESTS SERIES – A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY!

Jun 23, 2025 Sports

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By COLIN CROFT – Former Guyana, Lancashire CCC & West Indies International Cricketer

Kaieteur News – West Indies Head Coach and sole main selector Darren Sammy has spoken. WI will this week start taking on not-so-mighty-anymore Australia for the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy, in three Tests – Kensington Oval, Barbados, followed by Grenada National Cricket Stadium, then finally at Sabina Park, Jamaica. Here is hoping for continuing entertaining Test cricket.

Having played successfully in three such series; (8 Tests, 32 wickets); I can attest that WI v Australia Test Series always entail seriously hard cricket.

Those selected have a massive chance of beating slightly deflated Australia, after their come-uppance v South Africa last week, in ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final. Cricket aficionados everywhere must have really enjoyed that unbelievable game.

TEST CRICKET IS STILL THE BEST

Judging from what I saw in UK of WI ODI & T-20-I teams, WI Test team must improve 500 % to challenge recently SA-vanquished Australia, for whom one of two things will occur in this important series.

It is a spot-lighting series for the usually extremely arrogant tourists, whose over-hyped huff and puff did not slow down, much less to blow away SA. Aussie confidence was badly shaken, stirred, even destroyed, at Lord’s last week. SA played brilliantly!

Test cricket brings out thoughts, words, deeds and imaginations. ICC WTC Final 2025 was one of the best Test matches ever played since Test cricket’s 1877 inception.

I like T-20s and ODIs but Test cricket is the best form of our game. It allows five long days to steep, mix, settle and permeate, like ground fruits and nuts (currants, dates, raisins, almond nuts, pecans, walnuts, cherries, slight molasses or burnt sugar), of “Old Sylvia’s” dark mix, set and soaked in severe alcohol for six months, before becoming Christmas “Black Cake”!

Test cricket, like “Old Sylvia’s” resulting inebriating black cake, overpowers minds and bodies with calculations, confusions and perplexities. Test cricket has the best taste!

AUSTRALIA ON THE REBOUND AND REBUILD

The Aussies can come out, v WI, with ‘Beelzebub’ anger blazing, eyes and nostrils glowing fire and brimstone, ‘Exocet’ and ‘ARM’ missiles booming, blasting, highly explosive, to destroy any Test team in the immediate surrounds.

If so, as happens when usually successful sports teams somehow lose, WI could expect violently blowing hurricanes and very torrid days these next three weeks.

Conversely, with utterances of “rebuild”, and “Ashes Series” v England, slated for later in 2025 in Australia, our tourists from ‘Down Under’ could be tentative in approach in Barbados, Grenada and Jamaica, giving WI a serious chance of a surprise series win.

That vanquishment in London last week shook Australia to their very spurious spines and could have been the start of sprinkles, even becoming showers, of depression for the Antipodeans but do not expect that. Proud Australia will hit back hard.

Whatever happens, it will be instructive as to progress of WI Men’s Test team under the new dispensation of Head Coach Darren Sammy and Captain Roston Chase.

ARE THESE WI BEST TEST CRICKETERS NOW?

Having seen all WI players selected first-hand, my assessments of those representing us eight million, v Australia, are as follows:

ROSTON CHASE (Barbados – Captain): On form, Chase is WI’s equivalent to India’s Ravindra Jadeja. Seldom does Chase fail with fielding, catching, frugal bowling or face-saving batting. Only time will tell how he reacts to new responsibilities but it could be a tough baptism of fire for his captaincy.

KEVLON ANDERSON (Guyana): Product of 2020 WI Under 19’s, this is an interesting selection. He debuted in First Class cricket in 2023 and is a top order batting all-rounder. Played 23 First Class matches; healthy 44.44 batting average. If he debuts, his “Medium Dobblers” bowling might remind of Viv Richards’ in my 1970s / 1980s WI teams.

KRAIGG BRATHWAITE (Barbados): Former captain and elder states-person, much will depend on 98-Tests experiences and starts that he could bring. Recent innings have been poor, but his selection is necessary for stability in an uncertain team. A swansong for 100 Tests too, but he must score heavily immediately or be quickly discarded without sentiment.

John Campbell (Jamaica): What has this nearly 32 year old opening batter done to deserve inclusion? It indicates how extremely poor WI cricket has been recently. 20 Tests, not yet 1000 runs, only three half-centuries, no centuries. 98 F-C games, only nine centuries; avg. 32.00 Campbell is the poster boy for WI’s poverty-stricken batting failings.

Keacy Carty (St. Marteen / Leeward Islands): Could have played for Netherlands, v whom he debuted in ODIs, aged 25. Another 2016 WI Under-19 player, he took his time developing to be called “potential”. 5 Tests, batting avg. 17.90; 59 F-C games, three hundreds, avg., 27.42. Nothing lends solidity or confidence but good luck to him anyway.

Shai Hope (Barbados): Despite work-load, Hope should play all Tests, ODIs and T-20-Is available, even if he does also wicket-keep. WI best batter, he is the proverbial light-house’s bright light trying to guide blinded WI away from bewildering blows. 38 Tests, 2 centuries, five 50’s, avg. 25.01; 70 F-C games, 9 centuries, 15 half-centuries, avg. 34.95, are not nearly good enough for a batter with such skills. Much improvement is required v Australia.

Tevin Imlach (Guyana): Another from WI’s victorious 2016 Under-19 World Cup team. One wonders why it takes players almost 10 years afterwards to play Tests. His wicket-keeping is good, but with only two Tests; 55 runs; Imlach and Hope will probably not play together, especially with WI’s very suspect, seriously under-whelming batting lineup.

Brandon King (Jamaica): If John Campbell’s inclusion is questionable, King’s is just plain scandalous. What has he done to warrant this inclusion? Is this reward for being an abject failure over 10 years? 42 F-C games, 3 centuries, avg. 34.53; 52 ODIs, 3 hundreds, avg. 29.16; 63 T-20-I’s, avg. 26.76. Even in ODIs and T-20-Is, King’s swiping has been found out, a batter with no proper technique whatsoever. No-one swipes successfully in Tests.

Mikyle Louis (St. Kitts & Nevis / Leeward Islands): May be an investment for a few years, but, at nearly 25, now is the correct time for this stylish but seriously under-producing opener to come good. Nine Tests, just two 50s, avg. 19.88; 23 F-C games, four centuries, avg. 34.66; suggest that much more is still to be achieved. Test batting is for sessions, not for overs.

Justin Greaves (Barbados): Poverty of Caribbean regional cricket is highlighted in supposed all-rounders like Greaves. Six Tests, one century, avg. 21.00; six wickets @ 34.16 are such poor returns. 52 F-C games, only four centuries, avg. 29.67, and 97 F-C wickets @ 25.71 (less than two wickets per game), suggest serious mediocrity; something of a bit player.

Johann Layne (Barbados): Nearly 22, Layne can be a “dark horse’ for WI’s cricket future. Generating steady pace for his still developing stature, and good as a lower-order batter, this natural mover can be in WI teams for a decade if coached and properly cared for. 19 F-C games, 66 wickets, avg. 22.28; 495 runs at 20.00 avg., suggest potential for much better.

Jomel Warrican (St. Vincent / Windward Islands): Played in 2010 Under-19 World Cup. Now 33, his longevity has been rewarded with vice-captaincy, a move that will stifle younger orthodox leg-spinners. 19 Tests, 73 wickets @ 27.56 RPW, 334 runs @ 17.57 avg; 99 F-C games, 401 wickets @ 20.54, batting avg. 13.78, are not nearly acceptable returns.

Shamar Joseph (Guyana): After 2024’s heroics in Australia, he is now a “powder puff” – no sting and no pace. What the hell has happened? He needs serious bowling help right now. I was very embarrassed seeing how badly he bowled in UK three weeks ago. Against SA-A last week, he bowled more rubbish. If nothing is done now, this guy will disappear soon.

Alzarri Joseph (Antigua & Barbuda / Leeward Islands): Acknowledged as WI’s fast bowling leader, he looked tired and jaded in UK for ODIs and T-20-Is; no pace generated. Has served WI fast bowling history and fraternity well but would need much help from fast bowling and spinning associates v Australia, to become as effective as he had been in 2023 / 24.

Anderson Phillip (Trinidad & Tobago): With only two Tests, he is a late bloomer who needs much more work. His recent exploits for my old county, Lancashire CCC, in 2025, will stand him in good stead for fitness and readiness to bowl long spells, but he needs more pace too. Had a good outing v SA-A last week – a first innings five-wicket haul – and is a good reserve.

Jayden Seales (Trinidad & Tobago): Presently WI’s most productive and on-form faster bowler. Reminds all of former LI & WI faster bowler Kenny Benjamin. 18 Tests, 75 wickets @ 22.26; 153 F-C wickets from 44 games @ 24.89; are indicative as to how effective Seales can be. Works hard and understands bowling well. Will have to work much harder v the Aussies.

So, Test cricket still needs boosters, despite that excellent ICC WTC Championship 2025 Final at Lords last week. Hopefully, West Indies and Australia will play enterprisingly. The series will probably end 1 – 1, which would be a great result for West Indies. Enjoy! Cheers!

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• Australia, Colin Croft, Lancashire CCC, Sir Frank Worrell Trophy, West Indies

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