Who is popular today?

By Bryan Davis
THERE are only two basic reasons a cricket team does not perform well, either because their practice hours are inadequate or their standard of skill is not appropriate for the level at which they are playing.
Of course, there are other explanations, like no cricket acumen plus no unity within the team, also, an unfit side.
The West Indies (WI) in New Zealand (NZ) accomplished nothing and they are being pounded, quite rightly so, by past players, commentators, and suffering cricket fans. The cricketers who were on that tour must feel pretty miserable.
Although the coronavirus pandemic has stifled free movement, which has been tough on the cricketers, this is not an acceptable excuse for international athletes.
Now, on to Bangladesh. This is an opportunity for some changes.
One can blame the selectors for the team to NZ, and that has merit, especially when one notices certain players, like Sharmah Brooks, for instance, a middle-order batsman who is 32 years old. What do they expect that he’s good enough to rise to the top at this age? Nkrumah Bonner at 31 was chosen as a reserve.
In a poor batting team, with a humble average per player of less than 30, if they are not established batsmen at this age then give the youngsters with ability the exposure so they may gain experience. One has to build and to do that one has to invest in youth.
Wouldn’t Nicholas Pooran at 24 be a better investment for the future than Brooks or Bonner? Opportunity lost.
I’m all for top players being given a first chance after already reaching their thirties, however, they have to be a cut above the rest. Not average batsmen like the two mentioned.
Then there’s Rahkeem Cornwall? How can any selector in their right mind pick someone so obviously unfit and of mediocre talent, to represent WI? It’s embarrassing. That selection alone tells me the selectors don’t have a clue who should play and how to build a team. Did they really think he would’ve made the Test side?
Surprisingly, former Test cricketers like Roger Harper and Phil Simmons are not more analytical. I don’t know how much input Miles Bascombe would have but his background is too limited to be a selector. He has no right being part of a committee choosing WI cricket teams.
John Campbell is below par and selectors don’t see this? He is not up to this standard plus there was no third opener on whom to fall back.
Darren Bravo is not interested in playing Test cricket again; he advertised this by his attitude in the two Test matches. One only has to replay the Tests to observe his indifferent approach to two dropped catches. Pathetic.
It’s better to find someone enthusiastic about playing for the WI.
For the sake of continuity I believe they ought to hold on to Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase and Shimron Hetmyer. Joshua Da Silva should replace Shane Dowrich who does not seem to be tough enough for another arduous quarantine-like tour. Nonetheless, Da Silva provided yeoman service and at the present moment is a better choice than Dowrich. With his temperament, he seems set for a bright future.
Hear Mike Brearley in his excellent book “The Art of Captaincy.”
Quote: “I have absolutely no doubt that a good captain gets other people to play better, puts the right bowlers on at the right times, gets the right balance between attack and defence, keeps people thinking about their input and helps give them confidence in themselves. A whole team can degenerate into hopelessness, or slight pessimism, or passivity, or go the other way to arrogance and complacency. Captaincy governs attitude.”
This is so true and well put that one can witness it in the WI team, one just has to look for it.
How much practice did our team do before these games?
Did they have sessions in the morning, break for lunch, then at it again in the afternoon? Did they have bowlers bowling at one stump in forty-minute spells morning and afternoon and fieldsmen catching over and over again at various distances? Did they seek out those with the temperament to field in slip, a position that warrants concentration, a safe pair of hands, tremendous self-confidence and plenty practice?
I mention these things because our bowling was off-line, our batting was indifferent and our catching was dreadful. The cricket WI played was distressing.
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