Cricket West Indies’ Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams and Lead Selector of the men’s selection panel, Roger Harper, on Thursday outlined the rationale for awarding contracts to batsmen.
Speaking via Zoom at a press conference, Adams said that the structure looked to incorporate a system to even out performances over a couple of years using what was described as a “weighted average.”
Said Adams, “So if a player came in the current cycle with stats that weren’t as strong as their previous cycle then what would happen was they would do a weighting over a two-year period.”
Harper clarified that the two-year review would only become applicable in order to assist a player who has not performed as well in the immediate year.
“The first period, which is the immediate year, which is the evaluation period prior to the awarding of contracts is which is primarily used and if the player’s stats do not meet the criteria, then we look at it over a two-year period in an attempt to assist the player so to speak,” Harper said.
He added, “We have to appreciate that these are performance-based contracts, so the contracts are awarded based on performance during the evaluation period as well as the selection panel must feel that the player will play a major role or form the nucleus of the various teams going forward and the players who were not awarded contracts, their performances over the period did not meet the necessary criteria and as well you had players who came and performed so they were offered contracts.”
According to Harper, that performance standard is a batting average of 30 and above in both Tests and One Day International while in T20Is, there is a formula which combines batting averages and strike rate to bring a minimum figure of 150.
“For you to qualify really for your stats to be evaluated you must play what we call the minimum required amount of games which is 50 percent of the games during that period,” Harper declared.
While not indicating that fitness is a criteria, Harper pointed out that Shimron Hetmyer did not play the minimum number of matches required and not because he opted out, but simply because he was selected and failed the fitness test, thus causing him to fall below the required number of matches to be evaluated.
“I think going forward as a culture, if we want to see our team progress, if we want to see our team compete with the best in the world, we have to be more conscious of the fact that we have to earn our stripes and we have to perform consistently and I think our retainer contracts are given on that basis, based on what you’ve earned on your performances during that evaluation period,” Harper reckoned.
Harper reiterated that those players who did not retain their contracts would be awarded an A-Grade contract with their respective franchises.
Cricket West Indies recently announced some 18 players who have secured central retainer contracts including first timers, Joshua Da Silva, Nkrumah Bonner and Kyle Mayers while Shimron Hetmyer, Shamarh Brooks and Roston Chase all lost their contracts.
West Indies central contracts list:
All-format contract: Jason Holder
Red-ball contracts: Kraigg Brathwaite, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Kyle Mayers and Kemar Roach
White-ball contracts: Kieron Pollard, Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Alzarri Joseph, Nicholas Pooran and Hayden Walsh Jr
Players who are no longer receiving international retainer contracts are: Roston Chase, Shamarh Brooks Shane Dowrich, Sunil Ambris, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd and Oshane Thomas.
