When the greats speak, you listen. And that’s the golden rule of life and it doesn’t only end there; truth be told, when an influential name who’s been a subject matter expert begins to talk, you don’t interfere, you absorb.
For a lot can be added in life by the right context at times.
Which precisely reminds one of a significant press conference that happened a few hours back in the Caribbean.
The great in question who had a thing or two to say was none other than the most Hon’ble Desmond Haynes. And he’s been, we are all too aware, a subject matter expert of whacking the life out of the cricket ball, something doing which he became a venerable subject of West Indies cricket, a batsman who they all feared and hence, a not-so-adoring one for his then-team’s opponents.
But when the respected Mr. Haynes began to speak on the subject of the forthcoming England tour of the West Indies, which is but a few days at distance, there were quite a few questions but with them, the belief that things were sorted on many fronts.
That’s despite many of us having perhaps a completely opposite view to what was declared, of course, in the best interest of the West Indies cricket.
For instance, Darren Bravo isn’t in the squad meant to face the soon-to-arrive English. And it really doesn’t increase the price of fish or make the already beautiful Caribbean islands any more beautiful, that Bravo, the famous left hander and once, a Lara in–the-works, hasn’t been picked.
Of course it does.
To many of us who believe that after Brian departed the scene, there was hope in flamboyance and faith in temerity of a left hander called Darren Michael Bravo. But from the onset of mid-2017 and thereafter, the very disappointing seasons as batsman in 2019 and 2020, there wasn’t much that the hugely gifted Bravo could do. For sure, and make no mistake, he stunned Sri Lanka by producing a graceful century in the summers of 2021 when the former ODI World Cup winners came calling for a white-ball series. Bravo and Hope big runs in the same inning in fact in one of the one dayers, but usual service marked by mediocre returns with the bat shunned the scene on the whole.
So that’s that; despite being a prolific scorer in the recent Super50- there’s no place for Bravo in the West Indies white ball squad to square off against England. And while one’s not giving any ideas here, it’s also true that all good things to an end. And maybe even as they won’t say it explicitly, could the non selection despite 376 runs from 8 matches at an average of 90, Bravo couldn’t embrace the good destiny of being picked again. Who does the fault or blame like with?
For sure, if the recent past is the last of what we’ve seen of Bravo, remember the lowly outing in India in 2022 in the one-dayers, with scores of 18(34), 1 and 19 (30), then is his non selection to be worried about?
Probably not, but here’s what one must be excited about, at least, to some reasonable extent.
The lanky and fierce figure that is Alzarri Joseph is the new West Indies ODI vice captain. A genuine fast bowler who approaches batters with nothing held back will hopefully attempt to turn around a corner in West Indies Cricket; something that’s long been talked about but hasn’t happened as of yet.
Having said that, one of the finest pieces of development from the Sir Desmond Haynes press conference is that Shane Dowrich, yet another promising cricketer from Barbados, is back into the white ball contingent.
As on date, the man who was usually seen in red ball cricket, has played just one ODI.
But hopefully now, there’ll be more to come from the one of the nicest cricketers in the Caribbean in a format that’s a huge in 2023.
In fact; Dowrich would be aware of the fact it isn’t easy to make it count and go for the big leap in ODI format.
But he said; the right hander possesses the key factor called timing and placement as seen in his Test match cricket journey, where back in the 2018, 2019 seasons he made quite a few interesting innings alongside then captain Jason Holder.
But all of that said, it’s that’s disappointing, one notes that Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder are unavailable for selection for the England tour. It’s being said that they are prioritising the other formats as of now. How well will that reflect on their respect Windies resume is something only time can tell but a thing is clear.
Pooran, who batted boldly and beautifully in the world cup qualifiers is nowhere to be found for national contention. Why that is- we don’t know. Will that come to impact the fortunes of the West Indies national side- we know the answer already.
Having said that, sir Haynes also shared his excitement for Alzarri’s appointment along with the fundamental piece of understanding that together with the cricket board, he’s opted for the best possible West Indies squad for an English side that can be beaten.
But then, will that be any easy? Interesting to note the English side of which Buttler is no longer the captain, is arriving in the Caribbean soon.
That told, Brandon King, the subject of the sole question asked by Caught At Point on whether he’ll play and what difference might he add to their team, was responded by Mr. Desmond Haynes rather gleefully.
Not only will King play, the man who hit big of his ODI centuries this year itself, will hopefully bat like one.
May we see this promising West Indies squad and one in pursuit of success and continued improvement with the last laugh you the end of the English tour.
For a lot can be added in life by the right context at times.
Which precisely reminds one of a significant press conference that happened a few hours back in the Caribbean.
The great in question who had a thing or two to say was none other than the most Hon’ble Desmond Haynes. And he’s been, we are all too aware, a subject matter expert of whacking the life out of the cricket ball, something doing which he became a venerable subject of West Indies cricket, a batsman who they all feared and hence, a not-so-adoring one for his then-team’s opponents.
But when the respected Mr. Haynes began to speak on the subject of the forthcoming England tour of the West Indies, which is but a few days at distance, there were quite a few questions but with them, the belief that things were sorted on many fronts.
That’s despite many of us having perhaps a completely opposite view to what was declared, of course, in the best interest of the West Indies cricket.
For instance, Darren Bravo isn’t in the squad meant to face the soon-to-arrive English. And it really doesn’t increase the price of fish or make the already beautiful Caribbean islands any more beautiful, that Bravo, the famous left hander and once, a Lara in-the-works, hasn’t been picked.
Of course it does.
To many of us who believe that after Brian departed the scene, there was hope in flamboyance and faith in temerity of a left hander called Daren Michael Bravo.
But from the onset of mid-2017 and thereafter, the very disappointing seasons as batsman in 2019 and 2020, there wasn’t much that the hugely gifted Bravo could do. For sure, and make no mistake, he stunned Sri Lanka by producing a graceful century in the summers of 2021 when the former ODI World Cup winners came calling for a white-ball series. Bravo and Hope big runs in the same inning in fact in one of the one dayers, but usual service marked by mediocre returns with the bat shunned the scene on the whole.
So that’s that; despite being a prolific scorer in the recent Super50- there’s no place for Bravo in the West Indies white ball squad to square off against England.
And while one’s not giving any ideas here, it’s also true that all good things to an end.
And maybe even as they won’t say it explicitly, could the non selection despite 376 runs from 8 matches at an average of 90, Bravo couldn’t embrace the good fortune of being picked again.
Who does the fault or blame like with?
For sure, if the recent past is the last of what we’ve seen of Bravo, remember the lowly outing in India in 2022 in the one- dayers, with scores of 18(34), 1 and 19 (30), then is his non selection to be worried about?
Probably not, but here’s what one must be excited about, at least, to some reasonable extent.
The lanky and fierce figure that is Alzarri Joseph is the new West Indies ODI vice captain. A genuine fast bowler who approaches batters with nothing held back will hopefully attempt to turn around a corner in West Indies Cricket; something that’s long been talked about but hasn’t happened as of yet.
Having said that, one of the finest pieces of development from the Sir Desmond Haynes press conference is that Shane Dowrich, yet another promising cricketer from Barbados, is back into the white ball contingent.
As on date, the man who was usually seen in red ball cricket, has played just one ODI.
But hopefully now, there’ll be more to come from the one of the nicest cricketers in the Caribbean in a format that’s a huge in 2023.
In fact; Dowrich would be aware of the fact it isn’t easy to make it count and go for the big leap in ODI format.
But he said; the right hander possesses the key factor called timing and placement as seen in his Test match cricket journey, where back in the 2018, 2019 seasons he made quite a few interesting innings alongside then captain Jason Holder.
But all of that said, it’s that’s disappointing, one notes that Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder are unavailable for selection for the England tour. It’s being said that they are prioritising the other formats as of now. How well will that reflect on their respect Windies resume is something only time can tell but a thing is clear.
Pooran, who batted boldly and beautifully in the world cup qualifiers is nowhere to be found for national contention. Why that is- we don’t know. Will that come to impact the fortunes of the West Indies national side- we know the answer already.
Having said that, sir Haynes also shared his excitement for Alzarri’s appointment along with the fundamental piece of understanding that together with the cricket board, he’s opted for the best possible West Indies squad for an English side that can be beaten.
But then, will that be any easy? Interesting to note the English side of which Buttler is no longer the captain, is arriving in the Caribbean soon.
That told, Brandon King, the subject of the sole question asked by Caught At Point on whether he’ll play and what difference might he add to their team, was responded by Mr. Desmond Haynes rather gleefully.
Not only will King play, the man who hit big of his ODI centuries this year itself, will hopefully bat like one.
May we see this promising West Indies squad and one in pursuit of success and continued improvement with the last laugh you the end of the English tour.
