PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC- Former West Indies test player Bryan Davis has suggested a change in the captaincy of the regional side following their lopsided defeats against India in the just concluded two-test series.
Davis also criticized the West Indies cricket selectors after the team lost to India in back-to-back tests inside three days by an innings and 51 runs and an innings and 126 runs.
On Monday, Darren Sammy, who scored 25 runs over four innings and bowled 21 wicketless overs in the series, was named as captain of an unchanged Windies squad to play three test matches against New Zealand next month.
“Well boy, if not now, when? I think it’s most certainly apt for a change at this time,” said Davis in an interview with the Express.
“You can’t just continue on this journey we’re going on here with that sort of poor performance. It has to be revisited, and they have to have a serious view of it”.
Davis is the second ex-Windies cricketer, within days, to suggest a change in the captaincy of the regional side.
In a recent interview on ESPN Cricinfo, former West Indies pacer Michael Holding said Sammy should not be included as a member of the test side and should only be used for the shorter formats.
Davis has also criticized the non-selection of mystery spinner Sunil Narine and pacer Ravi Rampaul, the selection of injured fast bowler Kemar Roach—who did not play and was sent home after the first Test once his shoulder failed to heal in time—and the subsequent call-up of Shannon Gabriel, who has not played the longer version of the game in a while.
He described pacer Tino Best as “not up to standard” for Test level.
“It could be captaincy, coaching, and the preparation of the players. I don’t know, but somebody has to look at it,” he said.
“The WICB cannot be absolved because they are accountable; they have to answer serious questions.”
Davis is calling on regional territories to demand answers from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and blasted team preparation as poor.
“I don’t think the team was well prepared. I have to ask who is responsible for the preparation for that team?,” he questioned.
“When batsmen are making 20s and 30s and can’t go on, they’re lacking mental preparation, stamina. Who is to blame? The coach must have an input. What did he do? Why did they put on a (pre-tour) trip to Orlando?”
