The West Indies versus England One-Day International (ODI) series bowls off Sunday in Barbados with the West Indies starting the series with mass confusion regarding the non-selection of Darren Bravo for the regional team. It astounds me how the West Indies always seems to be embroiled in some element of controversy.
The T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) is reportedly concerned and dismayed at Bravo’s exclusion. Really? They are calling on the chairman of selectors, Desmond Haynes, to fully explain the criteria used to deny Bravo’s selection after a superb season with the bat for the Red Force. Interestingly enough, Azim Bassarath is vice-chairman of Cricket West Indies (CWI) and president of TTCB and inevitably must be caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, Bassarath would want to fully support his board members but must be cautious if and how he speaks out as vice president; he has to support the selectors even though he must realise that the exclusion of Bravo was a foolish and naive decision.
Regarding the TTCB's request for information, Desmond Haynes will likely not answer especially because he has indicated, on numerous occasions, that CWI is investing in players with an eye on future tournaments with the 2027 World Cup in mind. Now, goodly folks of the TTCB, you have suggested that it is ludicrous for Haynes to suggest that but he did. So, what now? Do you want him to say he made a mistake? Well, dream on. Nothing is going to change and you can ask the question until the cows come home; ultimately, Darren Bravo is not in the West Indies squad to face England.
Perhaps a more effective approach for the TTCB is to demand action and give its board members a directive to remove the selectors with immediate effect and seek the support of the vice president. The real reason why Darren Bravo was left out appears to still be unknown and the reason given is unacceptable. Therefore, the resignation of the selectors seems to be the only real action that the TTCB can demand. The time for talk and questions is gone; it is time for action; and for the TTCB to show some courage, for a change, for one of their own.
Let’s get down to the action on the field of play. West Indies is fortunate as England did so poorly in the Men’s ODI 50-over World Cup that they have only retained six players who were at that tournament that concluded last month - captain Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson. There is no Joe Root, Mark Wood, Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali or Chris Woakes. The ones excluded performed below average at the World Cup so they are evidently in a rebuilding stage. It is the right time to give other players an opportunity, not just young players, but some players with proven international ability.
Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have performed well at the Test level as has Ollie Pope. Phil Salt has done well at the whiteball level. Undoubtedly, the batting will be led by captain Buttler and the exciting Brook. Livingstone, if he gets off to a good start, can be a dangerous opponent. The England batting lineup looks good even without some of its stalwarts from the World Cup.
Curran is the one bowler I am familiar with. Young 19-year-old leg spinner Rehan Ahmed will be an interesting prospect if he plays against the Windies and how will the batsmen deal with him? Carse, a bowling allrounder, and Atkinson were picked for the World Cup so I expect them to be included in the final eleven. The other quickies - Matthew Potts and Josh Turner- may play depending on the make-up of the team. Tom Hartley is a slow, left-arm orthodox spinner who should add variety to the attack. In retrospect, England would be hoping their experienced players stand up and be counted in the series as without them, the West Indies should have no fears.
As for the ‘Bravo-less’ West Indies, the batting at the top will depend on Brandon King and Shai Hope. Kjorn Ottley, even though he will be 34 on December 9 (the third ODI), gets his chance based on his excellent performances in the recently concluded Super 50 tournament.
I have always had time for Alick Athanaze and let us hope he keeps learning at the international level as he is certainly one for the future. The question is whether they will play Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, and Yannic Cariah. I was thinking four of those six would start but now, with the shock retirement of 32-year-old Shane Dowrich, it means Hope will keep wicket which will open up a spot for another one of those six players so five of them should start the first ODI. It will be interesting to see the West Indies' final lineup. Do they use Cariah as a batsman who can bowl leg spin to give them the variety or do they just go into the game with the off-spinner in Chase and the left-arm orthodox spinner in Gudakesh Motie?
No doubt Alzarri Joseph, the “mean” one, will open the bowling. I would like to see Matthew Forde open the bowling with him. He has such a bright future and the more international cricket he plays, the more he will learn and get the experience he needs. Romario Shepherd will have to play due to his all-round ability and even though I would give the new ball to Forde because of his ability to swing the ball, Shepherd can be a handful if he bowls a good line and length.
The questions the West Indies will have to answer will be on the morning of the game when they assess the pitch and weather conditions, do they go with three spinners or two and do they use the backup medium pace of Rutherford if he gets into the team to strengthen the batting.
It will be a close series but the selectors may just get away with their nonsense of leaving Bravo out as England's bowling lineup does not look that strong. I will have to see them in action to give an informed opinion but West Indies is at home and they normally play well in their back yard and I doubt this England team will like the conditions in the Caribbean. It should be an interesting series and who knows how it will go. Let's wait and see.
Editor’s note: The views expressed in the preceding article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of any organisation in which he is a stakeholder.
