WICB scrape bottom of the barrel
Who is Chadwick Walton, or for that matter, 16-year-old Kraigg Braithwaite? Today, WI cricket fans will find members of their team as unrecognisable as the Bangladeshis.
Who is the captain?
This is surely the question being asked by millions of bewildered West Indian cricket fans as the region once again embarrasses itself and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) scrape the proverbial bottom of the barrel to, hastily, assemble a squad for today’s opening Test match against lowly Bangladesh at the scenic Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent.
Thank God, it isn’t Australia, South Africa or India against whom the West Indies are playing. There are accusations and counter accusations of “intransigence”, negotiating in bad fath and so on being hurled by the WICB and the militant West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and at the end of the day one isn’t sure who is right and who is wrong. They both appear to be the villains as West Indies cricket continues to be laughing stock of the world.
The squad for the match comprises well known names such as discarded fast bowler Tino Best, Darren Sammy, Dave Bernard Jr, and Floyd Reifer-all of whom have had Test experience. Then there are Dale Richards, Nikita Miller, Kemar Roach and Nelon Pascal who are on the verge of selection. Ryan Austin, Travis Dowling, Kevin McClean, Omar Phillips, Chadwick Walton, Kraigg Braithwaite and Andre Creary have never been in the picture. It is believed that either Darren Sammy or Floyd Reifer will be captain with Tino Best, Kemar Roach and Nelon Pascal constituting the pace attack supported by leg-spinner Nikita Miller and medium pacer Dave Bernard Jr. Dale Richards is expected to be one of the openers.
The match will start before what is expected to be a small curious group of spectators beginning at 10a.m.
The West Indies has been down this road before- around 1978 when most members of Clive Lloyd’s all conquering team played in Kerry Packer’s Circus in Australia. The question is what will be the fate of the West Indies regulars led by Chris Gayle?
Two Trinis-teenaged batsman Adrian Barath and fast bowler Ravi Rampaul were in the original squad and expected to make their debut. What next for them?