Last week Monday, Cricket West Indies’ selection panel released the names of the 15-member squad for the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) Series in Sri Lanka. It was not the routine formal announcement of a group of names but rather a statement to the international cricketing world to ‘sit up and take notice,’ that West Indies cricket is serious business once again.
“They will be missed, Lewis was the team’s best batsman in the recent Colonial Medical Insurance ODI Series against Ireland where he batted with great composure and proved the bedrock for the team’s series win. Hetmyer appeared to be getting his act together and was an integral part of the team’s batting group,” Harper was further quoted as saying.
Despite being the “bedrock’ and ‘an integral part’ of the line-up, there are no places for Lewis and Hetmyer. The message has been sent loud and clear. There are no longer any guaranteed places in the team, emphasis on the word team, here. The days of the ‘Me Generation’ are finally over. Over the hill players, or rather passengers, limping and incapable of running threes (as we witnessed at last year’s ICC World Cup), need not announce their availability via social media. There are no longer any reserved places for prima donnas.
One common factor throughout the rampaging juggernaut that was West Indian cricket in the 1980s and early 1990s was the continuous presence on the team of the Australian trainer/physiotherapist Dennis Waite, a holdover from the Packer days. Anyone arriving early for a game involving the West Indies, be it a Test match or an ODI, got the bonus of witnessing Waite putting the players through an intense workout. There was no malingering here. All the players participated, and there was intense competition to try and keep pace with Waite during these strenuous sessions. It was not an uncommon sight back then to witness Waite and several players running back to the hotel after a game rather than riding on the team bus.
Following Waite’s departure from the team (no clues for guessing under whose captaincy this ignominious act was committed), there was a noticeable decline in the team’s fittest levels, one of the contributing factors to the rut that the West Indies have found themselves in for the past several years.
Whilst Lewis and Hetmyer find themselves at home, the two recalled players, top order batsman, Darren Bravo and allrounder, Rovman Powell, following outstanding performances in the early rounds of the Regional Four Day Competition will look to grasp the opportunity with both hands.
How will Lewis and Hetmyer respond to their dropping from the West Indies team? We expect the two lefthanders, who both possess great potential, to show their true mettle and earn the selectors’ nod for their return once they demonstrate that they are ready to commit to being international cricketers.
Comments
Citing fitness as the reason: “Evin Lewis, the most outstanding batsman in the recent home series against Ireland, and the young Guyanese batsman, Shimron Hetmyer, were the surprising omissions from the team (for the Sri Lanka tour) …”
Had this criterion been used in the past, Chris Gayle would not have played too many games for the West Indies. On 1 April 2007 at Providence Stadium, I was seated in the Western stands in the West Indies vs. Sri Lanka match. (Bharrat Jagdeo stopped by to shake hands and take some pictures with the fans.)
West Indies won the toss and elected to field first. The Sri Lankan openers and the umpires were out in the middle first. West Indies walked down the stairs slowly and huddled for a team talk before dispersing to their respective fielding positions.
Chris Gayle looked as if he should have in bed instead of a cricket field. He appeared tired and sluggish, somnolent. Apparently, the chap had been out partying late the night before with some Guyanese beauties.
Maybe this new approach to fitness will help those omitted fight harder to reclaim and keep their spots on the team; and an overall improvement in West Indies’ performances on the world stage.
Ron Saywack.