Well it was what I expected. That Shannon Gabriel, Darren Bravo, Jahmar Hamilton and Jomel Warrican, who should not have been in fact ever named in any squad, it should have been 13 virtually straight from the get go have been omitted.
Looking at the 13 and the conditions, I can only see Kieran Powell being left out. He cannot come in for Nkrumah Bonner, who has gotten runs under his belt for the West Indies batting at number three.
To be fair, Bonner didn’t look in great form in the four-day (`Best vs Best’) but they’ve got to stay with him. They have no choice and Powell cannot come in for Shai Hope. Despite the inclusion of Rahkeem Cornwall in the 13, I don’t think he will get into the 11, if you have Roston Chase batting in the middle order. He can look after the spin department that Kraigg Brathwaite will want. You cannot leave out a fast bowler to play a second spinner on this St Lucia track. If this game was being played in Trinidad or Guyana yes! You might have omitted a fast bowler in place of a second spinner and bear in mind that Brathwaite can also bowl useful off-spin. So I see Powell and Cornwall going out. The team will have balance, they will have a good back up in Kyle Mayers who is an underrated bowler and who maybe will play a bigger part than he played against Sri Lanka.
So that’s my final XI and I think I’m on course for being right.
