The West Indies management team might just be missing a trick by not giving young all-rounder Romario Shepherd a run against Ireland in the absence of the rested Jason Holder.
Shepherd ran the drinks during West Indies’ five-wicket win over Ireland in the first One Day International (ODI) between the two sides on Tuesday in Barbados.
His exclusion is especially strange since Holder isn’t in the squad. The latter was rested for the first two ODIs of the series and it was perhaps logical for him to be replaced by Shepherd who is a ‘like for like’ option.
Instead, the selectors opted to include Brandon King into the playing XI, a move which saw skipper Kieron Pollard being pushed down the batting order to number seven. King, on the other hand, only mustered 20 runs from 40 deliveries and was not exactly up to it.
Rightfully, King should not come into the fray unless it is to replace one of the frontline batsmen.
King’s inclusion in the current XI creates an imbalance while Shepherd would gift Pollard more options with both bat and ball. Additionally, Pollard’s value is wasted batting at seven while Shimron Hetmyer should be given the opportunity to make the number three position his own. Hetmyer has recorded two of his five centuries, his maiden and his last, batting at first drop, the position he vacated for West Indies to include King.
With that said, you may ask what is the case for Shepherd?
The 25-year-old, by virtue of his low, ‘slingy’ action, offers a tricky variation to Pollard in the death overs which is amplified if reverse swing is induced.
Shepherd who made his debut against Afghanistan in November last, has played three ODIs, taking three wickets with a best of two for 32. He operates at an economy rate of under six.
He is also more than capable with the bat as was on display during his unbeaten 19 from 14 balls to usher the West Indies President’s XI over the line against Ireland by three wickets before the start of the series.
The takeaways, therefore, are pretty clear. King, although he is a fine player, upsets the balance of the side.
His inclusion would fit if he replaces a batsman and secondly, Shepherd’s inclusion is more practical at this point with the absence of Holder.
Some may even argue that he should be giving maximum opportunity to audition for his place as the backup all-rounder in a full-strength West Indies side moving forward.
If there is no respite for the Guyanese, it begs the question, what happens when Holder returns?
(Royston Alkins is a former Guyana U19 criocketer)
