Dear Editor,
In discussing the poor fielding performance of the WI team in the first Test, there was no mention of the absence of Gayle, one of the few specialist slippers, from the slip cordon, the absence of Darren Bravo, the most improved fieldsman in the region, the absence of Dwayne Bravo, one of the world`s great fieldsmen, or the absence of Sammy (recently retired) whom Gavaskar described as one of the best slip fielders in the world.
Such omissions are not uncommon in cricket journalism, where the emphasis is more often than not, is on indicting the poor performances of WI cricketers of the older variety. For example, Samuel`s drop of Duplesis at gully received much more coverage than his century.
The exclusion, first of Bravo, Pollard and Sammy, and now of the first two only (by some sleight of hand Sammy was brought in) in a one-day squad of 15, is unacceptable. The WICB believes it is shrewd enough to distinguish between punishment and victimization, but both are misinformed in these circumstances. These players are considered special all over the cricket world except in the West Indies, where Mr Cameron and his acolytes seem to be able to say “We made you, we can break you,” simply because they do not represent a team that is high in the ratings, and therefore receive very little fan support. That approach, however, is at the expense of WI cricket.
In one-day cricket fielding is almost as important as batting or bowling, and these three players can perform at the highest level in fielding and at high levels in both batting and bowling. Maybe the WICB does not want them, but the WI squad needs them.
Perhaps Peter Mathews (anyone with his email?) should threaten to return home, and Keith should refuse to smoke his pipe.
Yours faithfully,
Romain Pitt
