Former T&T batsman, now cricket analyst Andre Lawrence is not happy with the West Indies team selected to face Australia Wednesday in the first Test at Kensington Oval Barbados.
Speaking via a Zoom interview, Lawrence chided the selection process saying: “I think that the process and selection for the current test team has been absolutely ridiculous, and we've been let down by a process that is very difficult to understand.”
Lawrence clarified the selections were taken with the future in mind.
“Just look back at the West Indies team that beat Australia just over a year ago in Brisbane, and they've added from that team of (Shai) Hope, (Roston) Chase, (John) Campbell, (Jomal) Warrican, (Brandon) King, in the most part. None of these players are under the age of 30. All of them are over the age of 30, and if you're thinking of progress and development of West Indies cricketers, I think it's a retrograde step.”
Lawrence also shared his thoughts on the comments made by coach Daren Sammy’s comments when he asserted that batsmen with averages of 25 should not be glorified.
“It's not about glorifying persons with what we would call not-so-great averages. It's about working with players and helping them get better. It certainly doesn't give them any confidence that they've been the best of what we have in the West Indies currently,” Lawrence explained.
He added, “They've done the best of all of those players, irrespective of what that average is. And you've rewarded them by getting them out of the team. I mean, went on further to say that don't worry.”
Lawrence then further chastised Sammy and questioned his ability as coach.
He said, “I think Sammy's statements have not given me any confidence that he understands well what he's doing. I think he's clearly in over his head and tactically on the field.”
Meanwhile, West Indies and Australia begin a three-Test series today in Bridgetown.
Starting the new World Test Championship Cycle with a new coach Sammy and new captain Chase, the home team will be hoping to record their ninth series win.
Australia leads the head-to-head 18-8 with three drawn series, the most recent came when they last met, as the teams split the series 1-1 in Australia.
The stats are heavily stacked in the visitors’ favour, as the Aussies have won 61 of the 120 matches the teams played between 1930 and 2024. West Indies won 33 matches, with 20 of them during the period of West Indies world domination between 1977 and 1995.
The Australians, who are smarting from the WTC final defeat to South Africa two weeks ago, will be without Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, but there will be no let-up as they still have the likes of Travis Head, Usman Khawaja and the young and exciting Sam Konstas to contend with.
First ball is 10 am today.
