The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) selection panel has come under widespread criticism since naming the national side for the upcoming First-Class season and the latest to voice their opinion is former West Indies skipper, Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Sarwan, a former chairman of the national selection panel, took to his social media account and shared a snippet of the selection panel’s press conference where they tried to justify the omission of left-arm spinner, Antony Adams and the inclusion of Ashmead Nedd.
“Injustice to a young man who has worked tremendously hard on his game and fitness. Who without any doubt deserve to be in Guyana team,” Sarwan stated.
In the clip, Sarwan’s replacement, Ravindranauth Seeram said “What happened was we were given a timeline to select the team and based on that, we selected the team and Friday, the 20 [January] and Antony Adams got his four wickets after the team was selected so based on that, we saw Nedd bowling, he was bowling pretty well where his chances were given off him and I think that’s the reason Nedd was selected ahead of Adams.”
Adams ended the two practice matches with six wickets including a four-wicket haul while Nedd returned three wickets.
When asked what would have given Nedd the edge over Adams, Seeram explained “Because he would have bowled pretty well. Adams had two wickets prior to the selection of the team and I think that was the call that was made that Adams was not in the best role as the spinner.”
Seeram noted that consideration was given to Adams’ experience in the absence of Gudakesh Motie.
“Nedd was bowling pretty well, seeing he is a West Indies Emerging Player also, that has given him the chance to get into the side.”
Seeram admitted that Adams was one of the better spinners behind Veerasammy Permaul and Motie. Albert Clements, another member of the selection panel and manager of the Guyana Harpy Eagles joined Seeram in their defense and pointed out that Nedd played in the Regional Super-50 and had exposure against some of the first-class regional batters.
Clements reckoned that he had seen the top bowlers bowling with consistent control and Nedd had established that he was on top of his control even though he didn’t get wickets.
Clements said, “Sometimes as selectors, we have to look at the quality of the bowling and the quality of batsmen you get out and many times you had partnerships and there is when Nedd came in and got a wicket or a drop catch…we thought it was better to give a guy coming up…
