ESPN columnist Sidharth Monga in an article: titled “Eight domestic giants who never played for their country,” described Barbadian Franklyn Stephenson as – one of the eight who never went on and as being a fearsome proposition with his height, swing and pace.
I would like to borrow those exact words to describe West Indian seamer Shannon Gabriel. Aside from Stephenson’s acumen to swing the ball which Gabriel isn’t quite versed at, he has all the other talismanic qualities of Stephenson. He is fearsome. He is tall. And he does have pace. Not to mention, he has been one of the region’s most successful bowlers in the recent past.
Gabriel’s relevance recently emerged after West Indies’ coach Phil Simmons announced that the 31-year-old Trinidadian will be added to the Test squad for the upcoming tour of England, depending on how he pulls up after the two practice matches.