West Indies cricket

Jun 30, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – Please allow me to express my views as it relates to the state of West Indies Cricket today.

Those of us, who were privileged to experience the might of West Indies Cricket in the 70s and 80s, find it a very difficult pill to swallow for what passes as cricket today. We of the 70s and 80s, still hold Test Cricket as the true format of that glorious game.
To us T20 is just entertainment. ODI is our alternate version to Test Cricket. For me, I would set up all night watching games played in different time zones to ours. That is how much I love my cricket.

So you can imagine how pleased I was when WI bundled out Australia, undoubtedly the most powerful team today for just 180 runs in the 1st Innings. At that point in time, I proclaimed that WI was on top.

When WI batted I felt the old frustrations beginning to step in, on my part. WI was soon reduced to 72 – 5. A face-saving 67 runs partnership for the 6th wicket then ensued. Two controversial umpiring decisions and inept batting saw WI crawling to a slim lead of only 10 runs. In my mind that lead should have been upwards of 50 runs given the time that was left in the match.

The second innings was a total disaster. Save and except for Shamar Joseph and Justin Greaves, WI batted without backbone. The seven dropped catches did not help their cause any, which brought into sharp focus the old adage – “Catches win matches.” Were those catches taken, WI might have found the winning target far less than the 301 they were set.

Editor, I would therefore like to make a few suggestions.

Firstly, the batsmen displayed an acute lack of mental toughness. With 2 days plus to get 301 runs and being all out in just 33.4 overs, speak volumes of the mental capacity of our batsmen.

Therefore, the Management of WI cricket has to devise some sort of program to toughen our players mentally. I am tempted to suggest a program similar to the GDF’s Officer Cadet Training.

Secondly, the selection of the team, in my mind needs to be addressed.

Brandon King, with all of his exploits in white ball cricket, looked out of sorts in the red ball format.

John Campbell opted for a t20 type of shot quite early in his innings and got out. He displayed total disregard for the state of the game at that given point.

Up to now I cannot see the point in playing Jomel Warrican. As a specialist spinner, he bowled only 8 overs in the match and made 3 runs batting twice. That is misuse of resources.

This also highlights the fact that t20 types shots are creeping in to test cricket. Most times these shots, while entertaining, look ugly in the Test arena.

Having said my piece please allow me to suggest the team for the 2nd Test Match. Kevin Imlach to open with Kraigg Braithwaite.

Keacy Carty at 3; Shai Hope at 4- He has demonstrated that he can absorb pressure in the event of the loss of early wickets; Royston Chase at 5; John Campbell at 6 to shepherd the tail; Justin Greaves at 7; Alzarri Joseph at 8; Shamar Joseph at 9; Godakesh Motie at 10; and, Jayden Seales at 11. With this combination we should give a better account of ourselves in the net two Tests.

Yours truly,

Carl Parker Snr.

Test Cricket Die-Hard

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Carl Parker Snr., GDF’s Officer Cadet Training, T20Cricket, Test cricket, West Indies

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