Dear Editor,
Many people today criticize the West Indies board for the downfall of the team. This is true to some extent but they are not the only ones to be blamed. I think a lot of blame should fall on the selection panel for their sometimes bizarre selection policy.
No doubt there are a lot of talented and capable players in the region, but it is very sickening to see the squad chosen for every series. One wonders what the selectors are looking for. The main criterion for selection is good performance, but one continues to see that many guys are doing good but to no avail, while there are others who just seem to look good and are considered for a spot. I ask on what grounds does a guy who produces the goods is overlooked? How is it possible?
We also see those who are getting many chances and are failing, but are still preferred over deserving candidates. Guys like Pollard, Simmons, Marshall and Morton are all failures, but are still there. I strongly feel that we, the diehard supporters of West Indies cricket, need an explanation about the selection of our team, and we should have our opinions as to who is suitable for a spot in this prestigious team of ours that used to make us proud.
Yours faithfully,
Anwar Ally
What is chance that the selection policy will change?
This year?
Next year?
Next 10 years?
How long should Guyana remain with this this style of Management and Adminisration?
*SIGH*… Absolutely appalling! It’s hard to believe what I read at times. Who hires the selectors, isn’t the WICB? If anyone could provide me with a sensible explanation regarding the current selection panel of three former spin bowlers of limited international experience, I will give him or her an award. Also, the writer stated ‘No doubt there are a lot of talented and capable players in the region’ yet he failed to mention names. Where are the infrastructures, academies etc. to prepare the players to compete internationally? Who is responsible for that, if not the WICB?
Anwar I fully well support you.Marshall is a disgrace to cricket.
The game of cricket was designed as a leisure sport which was, for the more part, played by the ‘leisure class’ in society. At weekends, they converge on their clubs and play among themselves or opposing clubs for a trophy. On Monday, they return to their jobs and discuss their ‘ play ‘ and the conviviality at the club house. Cricket was never their gainful employment.
Test cricket saw the players of teams taking leave of absence from their jobs to play for their countries. They were awarded stipends for their services. At the end of the tour they returned to their regular jobs.
Today, Test Cricket is a job and, as such, the game has lost its leisure atmosphere. Players must be employed all year to make a decent living. The art of the game then suffers in pursuit of money — trust funds for the kids. The short version of the game is a testament to the reality of present day cricket. The mental and physical demands of the game is inconsistant with the playing of the game all year long.
Georgie, what is your point?
I agree with Anwar. What has happened to Deonarine. He is one of the best cricketers in the region. Instead the selectors went for ‘have beens’ like Marshall, Simmons and Pollard – disgusting selection. WI will find it hard to win with that team.
Probably 50/50 blame. However, Gayle should not be captain.
sarwan is the man for captain. but watc him 2moro u gona c the result .
All this talk is nonsense.
Blame starts at the top, i.e., the WICB. The board should never have imposed the unplanned tour on te Wi players. SL pulled out from the same tour to allow it’s players a chance to play in the IPL and make the $$$ that they cannot make playing Test Cricket. It keps the players happy and hungry for Test cricket. We just won the Wisden trophy and then then had to suddenly defend it in a very very cold England. Gayle was absolutely right – it’s the board that’s driving the players to hate the long version of the game.
Now, about guyanese in the team… it’s the West Indies folks. Trinis can also complain about their players not getting selected especially since they have dominated the last couple of years. What did Guyana win recently?
There are a few players that I would like to see get a chance, that being said, I do believe that the WI have as good a chance as any team to win the 20/20 world cup and I do believe that as a team we are better than last year and the year before.
Our problem like is said starts at the top with the WICB.
I have written in the past that what WI cricket needs is support from the regional governments because we do not have the big economies to get teh big corporate sponsorships like they have in Ind, Aus, Eng, SA, etc. For starters, every secondary school in the region should have a dedicated cricket coach. The universities in the Caribbean should all offer scholarships to top secondary school students who excel at academics and cricket. We also need an academy and at least one indoor facility in Guyana and in each of the major countries (T&T, Jam, Bdos & Ant). Trinidad has several semi-pro teams and perhaps that could be extended to several countries. All this takes time, but again the money must come from somewhere and I believe the only way is for cricket to be subsidised by the Governments. I wish I knew another way.