Former West Indies batsman, Philo Wallace is happy with the new selection panel’s decision to recall John Campbell and Alzarri Joseph to the West Indies Test squad while suggesting that Shane Dowrich and Kieran Powell may not be too far off selection.
Wallace was at the time appearing on the Mason and Guest radio programme on Tuesday evening where he shared his view on the West Indies squad selected to face England in a three-Test series next month.
The squad includes Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales.
According to the former right-handed, West Indies batsman, “Obviously when you look at the two rounds of first-class matches that have been played in the region, John Campbell has been the stand out, a wonderful 100 in the first innings batting in Barbados. Batted a whole day and got a hundred and that would have really impressed the lead selector and obviously he looked like a more compact opening batsman.”
The 28-year-old Campbell scored 213 runs in the two matches at an average of 53.25, including his 127 against Barbados Pride.
Consequently, with Campbell expected to open with Brathwaite, Powell was not included in the squad. Powell scored 43, 27 and 74 in his three first class innings. He had scored 51 against South Africa but with scores of 0, 4, 5 and 23; he did not feature in the squad for the West Indies tour of Sri Lanka.
“I think it was hard done by Powell as well, I think Powell against South Africa started to make good and he was unfortunate to miss out on the trip to Sri Lanka but obviously he is not too far away. He is not in the President’s XI squad but I think if he comes back in the three remaining matches and scores heavy runs he could also feature because he was starting to shape up before he was left out,” Wallace said.
Meanwhile, Joseph returns to the squad having missed the Sri Lanka tour. This comes to the satisfaction of Wallace.
He said, “I am also happy for Alzarri Joseph. I am happy to see he is back in Test match cricket. He was relegated to white ball cricket. He started to look good in white ball cricket and I’m hoping that form he is showing in white ball cricket could filter into red ball cricket and he can be the leader in our attack.”
Wallace was also in support of the selection of Da Silva, labeling him as the first-choice wicketkeeper but reckoned that the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force vice-captain will need to be on his toes with Dowrich announcing his return with 86 against Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the first class opening round.
“I think Da Silva deserved to be picked as the first choice `keeper, it is now up to him to hold on to it now that Dowrich has come back into the frame as Barbados vice-captain as well. So Joshua Da Silva will have his work cut out for him and it is good to have competition for places it makes it healthy for our cricket,” he said.
Dowrich last represented West Indies back in 2020 against New Zealand with Da Silva behind the stumps for West Indies since.
