A number of West Indian players considered to be short format specialists will get their chance to play the longer version.
This is according to chief selector, Roger Harper, who, in a recent interview, revealed that these players will have a chance to stake their claim when the West Indies A play New Zealand A in two four-day matches.
While the logistics are still being decided, Harper stated that the two matches will be played simultaneously alongside the two Tests.
On the composition of the ‘A team,’ Harper noted, “The team will be made up the reserves and some of the guys from the T20 squad.
“So this will give an opportunity for the reserve players, along with a number of the members of the T20 squad who are interested in playing four-day cricket and maybe one or two of the guys from the Test squad who are not involved in the Test match to have some four day competition,” he explained.
Among the players from the T20 squad mentioned by Harper to possibly feature are Nicholas Pooran, Oshane Thomas, Rovman Powell, Fabian Allen and Brandon King.
Speaking of the consideration of Pooran for the Test squad, the chief selector pointed out, “There is a lot of consideration given to Nicholas Pooran and we are still looking at it but as we go forward I am sure Pooran will have opportunities too.”
The left-handed wicketkeeper/batsman has played three First-Class matches with his last being six years ago. In the format he averages 23.83 with a best of 55.
A lot of pundits have called for his exposure to the longer format, particularly influenced by his 50-over statistics. There, the 25-year-old averages 49 with one century and seven fifties in 25 matches.
Pooran himself has confessed his passion of playing Test cricket dating back to a young boy watching the greats in action on television. Pooran on a recent Instagram show said, “Growing up I always watched Test cricket and I’ve always wanted to play. I had an unfortunate accident, I had to make decisions and had to live with the consequences. But now everything is alright with me and whenever I am called to play Test cricket, I am ready to play.”
Much like Pooran, Thomas has little experience in First-Class cricket with eight matches under his belt. He has since picked up 17 wickets with his last match being in January 2019.
Nevertheless, Thomas has signaled his intention to play Test cricket.
He told the Jamaica Observer recently, “I definitely want to play Test cricket; I want to do well in all three formats…Test cricket is really the ultimate that everyone wants to play to be great, you don’t just want to be an average cricketer, you want to be among the greats.”
Powell also has a few First-Class appearances. He featured in 11 matches and has taken 25 wickets but has averaged just 16.9 with one half century with the bat.
Allen has a bit more exposure with 13 matches and boasts an average of 33.14. In First-Class cricket, the 25-year-old all-rounder has scored two centuries and four fifties as well as taken 10 wickets but like Thomas, he has not played First-Class cricket in over a year.
King, among those namedropped is the most experienced player in the longer version.
He has played 29 First-Class matches where he averages 34.15 with two centuries and a dozen half centuries.
These players are likely to be accompanied by the six reserves listed in Raymon Reifer, Nkrumah Bonner, Shayne Moseley, Preston McSween Joshua Da Silva and Jayden Seales and possibly a few members of the Test squad.
West Indies face New Zealand in three T20Is and two Tests from November 27 to December 15.
Test Squad: Jason Holder (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Chemar Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach
Test Reserves: Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua DaSilva, Preston McSween, Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Jayden Seales
T20 International Squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Fletcher, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Rovman Powell, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kesrick Williams
