With the West Indies cricket team in danger of not making it to the 2023 Cricket World Cup, a potential embarrasement, Roston Chase has an opportunity to prove his worth and repay the trust placed in him over so many years. It is up to him to decide how he will do so and make a difference.
After a period of underperformance in the longest form of the game, can his success in the shorter version revive and revitalize his career?
Answers to whether he will be able to deliver a strong performance in the World Cup Qualifier beginning on Sunday will be revealed.
Donning the maroon cap is a proud moment for any young man who dreams of playing cricket for the West Indies. Roston Chase a tall young man from Barbados made his Test debut for West Indies against India in 2016 at home. After an impressive performance both with the bat and the ball at first-class level, he caught the attention of selectors.
Chase immediately got into the groove of test cricket by scoring a match saving hundred for the team in only his second test at Jamaica. He batted pugnaciously throughout the fifth day to score an unbeaten 137 and assist his side in drawing the match. He even took 5 wickets for 121 against the formidable Indian batting line-up. Former players like Sir Viv, who was part of the broadcast team, praised his all-round performances and everyone felt that West Indies had gained another all-rounder like Jason Holder who would help the struggling team.
In 2017, the young man proved his worth by performing exceptionally against Pakistan in a 3 match Test series at home. He scored two centuries and one fifty, backing up his initial success and showing it wasn’t a mere fluke. His impressive showings made him an integral part of the West Indies team, leading to a surge in expectations from fans. This must have put him under tremendous pressure, and it was obvious from his lacklustre performances with both bat and ball in the following matches. Despite all the struggles, he also showed that he’s capable of getting back on track by scoring his first away century against the strong Indian team in Hyderabad in 2018.
Reliability is an essential trait for any cricketer, and the recent generation of Caribbean talent unfortunately have lacked in this area. Consistency is key to being able to hold up a fort and is something which these players have sorely missed. He too have become an enigma of West indies cricket and this has agitated many people as they feel his immense talent is being wasted. It is not a good sign for the team, or for Chase in particular.
Experiencing failure is not something to be embarrassed about; it provides invaluable lessons on how to tackle life’s hardships. Nevertheless, neglecting to learn from the experience is an unforgivable mistake. When a batsman or bowler is struggling, it’s critical to go back to the fundamentals. They should look to relearn the concepts that helped them reach first-class level cricket in the first place.
This can have a positive effect and help them succeed again. Although the money and fame of T20 cricket is attractive, it’s important for cricketers to prioritize representing their country in Test Cricket. Playing for your country should be the most important thing to them.
Test cricket is an excellent way for a cricketer to develop as it puts a high degree of emphasis on stamina, grit, and resilience. Those who can overcome the tough conditions and come out ahead will eventually become excellent players. Generally, a highly skilled test cricketer will tend to find success in One Day International (ODI) cricket. However, it can be more difficult for an ODI player to adjust to the longer and more complex format of Test cricket.
But then Roston Chase’s batting is an anomaly of sorts in that in the past three seasons, there’s really been nothing potentially destructive for the bowlers. The last prominent white ball score from the Bajan’s bat came in India, against Afghanistan in a one dayer in Lucknow, in 2019, where Chase gave fine company to Shai Hope, his close associate and fellow Barbadian.
Although this time around, Hope will want more of that in every which way.
Continuously displaying a lack of effort by batting the same way and not running hard between wickets, it’s evident that he has no enthusiasm or drive to do his best for his team – which is incredibly disheartening for passionate Caribbean fans. Seven years have passed since he made his debut and he has played in all corners of the world.
His 70 runs in the second test against Zimbabwe few months ago, demonstrated that persistence, along with time, can help you achieve success regardless of current form. Being consistent is essential for any successful player as it builds confidence and helps you to become a better player.
It is time for him to take responsibility as an all-rounder for the team otherwise he will fade away like most young cricketers who promised so much.
