The defiance displayed by West Indies selectors in the face of withering criticism and shame in light of the latest annihilation of the West Indies senior team in the just concluded Test series in India is mind-boggling.
In not making a single change to the squad for the New Zealand tour, after being thrashed inside three days in both Tests is taking incompetence to new levels unheard of not only in cricket, but in Regional sport in general.
It is incredible selectors Clyde Butts, Robert Haynes and Courtney Brown feel the 15-man squad is the best available for another round of Tests,
away from home in similar difficult conditions.
The selection blunders they made prior to India were so glaring that the team’s obliteration by innings defeats by 51 and 126 runs in Kolkata and Mumbai respectively, were as predictable as night follows day.
West Indies’ batting was diabolical, the bowling sorely inadequate and the captaincy was as usual thoughtless
The team’s balance continues to be seriously compromised by the inclusion of Darren Sammy, the captain by default, whose appointment was forced upon the team due to extenuating circumstances three years ago, when no-one else was available. It should have long ago been corrected but now seems part of a West Indies Cricket Board constitution amendment, that mandates he play at all times, regardless. In general most of the bowling attack was as expected, wholly subpar. Shockingly, all (the bowlers) are being persisted with in favor of the Region’s most talented spinner Sunil Narine.
More than once whenever, he got the opportunity, batting great Brian Lara, never hesitated to slam the selectors for their Narine blunder, while attending the second Test. Yet the best off spinner in world T20 cricket continues to be ignored for Tests.
Sammy proved once again he is utterly useless in this Test team. Every flaw of his game exposed prior to the India series, fructified in Kolkata and Mumbai. His combined total of 25 runs from the four innings, which included two dismissals of such senseless proportions, it would have made Don Quixote proud, allied with his two wicket-haul for 93 runs in the two India innings, were a continuation of a major liability perpetuated unto the team, from which better talented players are being denied much needed exposure.
But why should we be surprised at Sammy’s inept batting? As far as is known by anyone not prepared to bury their head in the sand, Sammy was never regarded as a batsman throughout his career as a junior and at Regional level. A check of his statistics at Under-19 and senior competitions for the Windward Islands tell the story.
In questioning Sammy’s relevance to the team, longstanding Regional writer/broadcaster Tony Cozier, nevertheless pointed out that the St. Lucia star, brought leadership and discipline to the team. However, leadership means production with bat or ball for others to follow, as well as tactical and general understanding of the game on-field.
If anyone has seen Sammy infusing wisdom to his players’ on-field, especially the likes of Tino Best when they continuously dish out rubbish bowling, one will be lucky enough to hit the lottery jackpot. The reality is he is incapable and according to former fast bowling ace Michael Holding, in his criticism of Sammy’s continued selection, the captain’s best quality on-field is clapping.
In the two games, Best proved once again that his skills and intelligence – challenged shortcomings, fall well below of Test standard requirements, after 22 Tests and 12 years of first class competition. Sheldon Cottrell’s and Shannon Gabriel’s poor returns could have easily been predicted in view of their unimpressive records and lack of competition in the run-up to the series. Which is why the promising Miguel Cummins. who had a creditable series for the Windies `A’ in India, just prior, should be a more sensible choice.
As for the rest of the batsmen, their longstanding deficiency of technique made them mincemeat for the Indian spinners and seamers. The vital requirement of footwork in both offence and defence seems lost on the West Indies coaches and players. It has been the nexus of their failures in the past and was very much so in India. To see the batsmen cemented in their crease, trying to negotiate Pragyan Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin, and being dispatched like ninepins, was a pathetic sight.
In normal circumstances, this embarrassment should have initiated sweeping sanctions for personnel in all areas responsible for the make-up and preparation of the team. From the decision maker or makers responsible for the dumb encampment idea, in of all places Florida, where the part-time cricketers there hardly know the difference between in-swing from out-swing, to the coaches, to selectors. The most basic requirement for competition is match practice which also seemed lost on the team’s management. Instead of spending time in Florida, for which Sammy ridiculously explained was to develop mental toughness, it should’ve been used in India instead for more warm-up games, to add to the solitary Uttar Pradesh game. More so for players who had only three Tests against hapless Zimbabwe, in the last year.
As much as the selectors have blundered, head coach Ottis Gibson, is equally culpable for the team’s disastrous display in India. Apart from his contributions as a selector, he has to be blamed for the poor preparation and the stagnation of standards in batting and bowling. If he cannot convince the West Indies Cricket Board to find a quality batting coach and is unable to improve the bowlers, being a specialist in that capacity, then West Indies failures are on him.
And if Butts and company think the New Zealand lineup West Indies will face Down Under next month will be as poor as the second string lineup they beat 2-0 last year in the Region, they have another think coming.
The Kiwis are almost as formidable at home as India is, so when the failures continue there, the selectors’ heads should be the first to roll.
