West Indies selectors and their baffling choices
Michael Holmes - 30 April 2002

So, we now have another strange episode in the saga that is the West Indies selectorial policy. Consider the major headaches.

Conundrum one: the openers.

Stuart Williams, who is let’s face it - a failure at the Test match level, was recalled to the team at the start of the series based on his blistering Busta Cup form. Fair enough. On two placid Test pitches against a decent attack, he records scores of 13, 43 and 13 again. Enough to warrant an axing from the squad? The West Indies selectors didn’t think so. Williams, despite playing down to his Test average of around 24, has been retained for the third Test.

Meanwhile, Devon Smith continues to languish in the international wilderness. The young Grenadian opener, a sensation on the under-19 team’s tour to England last year, hit a belligerent 91 for the Busta XI against an admittedly mediocre Indian attack in the recently concluded drawn three-day game. This after a domestic season which saw Smith outscore even the prolific Williams in the league stage of the Busta Cup, scoring seven fifties (and one century) in as many matches, amassing 750 runs at an average of 62.5.

Only 20 years old, Smith seems to meet the desirable criteria of youth, talent and - as the frazzled Indian ‘B’ attack will no doubt testify form, and could be the man to provide West Indies' hugely-talented middle-order with the platform to perform. The selectors though seem reluctant to include him.

Conundrum two: the bowling attack/tail end batting.

This should be a fairly easy puzzle to solve. West Indies don't have a very good bowling attack. So they need to pick their four best bowlers. But should batting ability come into the equation?

Various seamers have been tried over the last few years, but the most promising seem to have fallen by the wayside. Corey Collymore, who rattled even the fearsome Aussies during an aggressive Test debut three years ago, has been hit by back problems and now appears to be regarded as a one-day specialist. Franklyn Rose, who was instrumental in blasting India out for 81 in the decisive Bridgetown Test on their last tour, now plies his trade in South Africa and has been accused of having "attitudinal" problems. Reon King, for his part, has suffered from injury and inconsistency, but his Test record of 44 wickets at 27.77 eclipses those of all other contenders.

Still, West Indies are left with Dillon and Cuffy, a few youngsters and also a recalled Pedro Collins. Collins apparently adds variety - he's a left-armer, see. With a Test bowling average in the fifties, uncharitable observers may suggest that increased variety will only be reflected in the different methods Tendulkar and co. devise to pummel him to the Bridgetown boundary.

So what about the spinners? Dinanath Ramnarine has 45 Test wickets at 30.73. Mahendra Nagamootoo, Gareth Breese and Ryan Cunningham all took wickets at an average of around 20 in the Busta Cup this season. Both Nagamootoo and Breese also would contribute invaluable runs down the order.

Statistics can be used selectively and yes, I have conveniently ignored Collins' 14 wickets at 15.28 in the Busta Cup after his return from Sharjah. Busta Cup form has been devalued by the performances of Williams and Junior Murray.

The inescapable truth is that the West Indies don't have enough good, fast bowlers to field a four-pronged pace attack. Fortunately, they do seem to have enough good spinners to select one of them in every Test match, with the added bonus that a couple of the leading contenders can actually bat. Looks like the selectors may prefer Ramnarine over Collins for the Barbados Test.

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