Brathwaite ‘slightly ahead’ of Holder for captaincy: Sir Clive

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Legendary former captain Sir Clive Lloyd has weighed in on the raging debate over the future of the West Indies Test captaincy, saying be believed Kraigg Brathwaite was “slightly ahead” of Jason Holder, to lead the side in next month’s series against Sri Lanka. While pointing out that Holder was competent enough to continue in the role, Sir Clive said Brathwaite’s exemplary leadership in inspiring an inexperienced side to a 2-0 whitewash of Bangladesh earlier this month, could not be ignored by selectors.

However, the 76-year-old Sir Clive said both players brought vital experience to the squad and if selectors were keen on making a change, it was important to first sit down and discuss the matter with the players.

“If I were a selector, obviously Kraigg would be slightly ahead of Jason because of what [he] has done with the team that they have there,” Sir Clive said earlier this week.

“But the point is, they (selectors) will have to sit down and discuss it. It’s a beautiful position to be in that you have guys with experience, who were captain and vice-captain.

“I’m sure Jason’s is not a guy who will say ‘I’ve got a bad deal or a raw deal.’”

He continued: “I played a part in making Jason captain. He’s had good moments and he’s had some bad moments.

“I think it is good that we have guys with that experience. I don’t think he’s going to be out of the side … the point is they (selectors) would have to sit down and have a chat with the players [and find out] how they feel.”

Holder, who has led the side since 2015, opted out of the Bangladesh tour, citing mental fatigue and concerns over the integrity of the bio-secure “bubble” for the series. He was one of 10 players declining selection, leading to weakened sides being selected for both the one-day and Test series.

Brathwaite, however, chose to lead a 15-man Test squad which comprised four uncapped players and five others with less than 10 Tests to their names, and he attracted widespread praise for the masterful way in which he marshaled the side in both Tests.

Sir Clive, who inspired West Indies to World Cup triumphs in the first two editions of the tournament in 1975 and 1979, said what made Brathwaite’s achievement even more stellar was the fact that leading the West Indies was already a complicated role even with experienced players.

“We must understand that captaining the West Indies is by far more difficult than any other country,” Sir Clive told Starcom Radio’s Mason and Guest.

“Australia is one country, Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka [are all one country]. We are 14 islands spread.

“We have different cultures and backgrounds, it’s not easy to bring people together and Kraigg Brathwaite and those guys, in the matter of a couple of weeks, pulled things together.”

The highlight of the series was the form of two debutants and two other players with limited international experience.

Kyle Mayers struck an unbeaten 210 and fellow debutant Nkrumah Bonner, 86, as West Indies chased down 395 on the final day to pull off a sensational victory in the first Test in Chattogram.

In the second Test in Dhaka, Bonner shone again with 90 and 38, while wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva with just two Tests behind him, struck a top score of 92 in the first innings.

Off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, who had played only three Tests prior to the series, grabbed a nine-wicket match haul in Dhaka to spin West Indies to victory.

The likes of Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Shamarh Brooks and Shimon Hetmyer, all of whom opted out of the Bangladesh tour, are now expected to be available for selection for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

But Sir Clive said the nature of what the inexperienced side achieved in Bangladesh meant selectors could not simply discard those players when the stars returned.

“We have to reward them. You can’t get rid of these guys who did such a marvellous job,” Sir Clive urged.

“There are so many things they did right. Not many sides [in Bangladesh] went into the fifth day in Test cricket, if you look at it over the last three years. Most of the games were finishing on the third day or the fourth day. We went into the fifth day … on a turning pitch.

“We had to chase 395 and these guys batted extremely well. We had to defend 230 and we did that.

– Jamaica Scorpions clawed their way back from the brink of elimination when they held their nerve to beat lacklustre Leeward Islands Hurricanes by six runs under Duckworth-Lewis-Stern, and earn their maiden win of the Super50 Cup here Friday.

Without a win in the tournament and desperately needing one to keep alive their hopes of a semi-final spot, Scorpions twice displayed steely resolve to rebound from difficult positions, and break their wretched three-game losing skid.

Sent in at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, Scorpions were languishing on 135 for nine in the 38th over before West Indies all-rounder Fabian Allen struck 44 off 42 deliveries and engineered a record 85-run last wicket stand with number 11 Jeavor Royal (38), to get the innings up to 220 all out in the 49th over.

In reply, Scorpions were under pressure when Hurricanes reached 136 for three in the 36th over but the last of three rain breaks left the hosts with a target of 194 off 43 overs and Scorpions pounced to

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC

restrict them to 187 for eight.

Nitish Kumar top-scored with 51 while captain Devon Thomas got 49 but no other player passed 20 in another poor batting effort as off-spinner Jamie Merchant claimed three for 44 and left-arm spinner Royal, two for 31.

The result handed Scorpions four points, putting them level with Barbados Pride and leaving today’s clash between the two teams as the determinant of the last semi-final spot.

“I thought everybody come pull their weight today,” said Royal, after featuring in only his second game of the campaign.

“We played some good cricket in patches, I have to congratulate the boys.We have a game Sunday so we just have to focus on it.”

“It’s a big game. We’ve started now, at least we’ve got a win under our belts so going into the next game we can have our confidence up, back ourselves, back our skills and execute.”

Hurricanes, meanwhile, tasted bitter elimination, with their fourth defeat in five matches to end on four points.

They had only themselves to blame, however, dominating the early stages of the contest to cripple the Scorpions batting.

Guyanese left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd, with three for 23 from his 10 overs, stunned the innings while fast bowler Quinton Boatswain (2-35) and off-spinner Terrance Warde (2-54) supported with a couple of wickets apiece.

Brandon King missed a sweep at Nedd and was bowled in the fifth over for seven but Paul Palmer (23) put on two small partnerships of 23 for the second with Aldaine Thomas (17) and 26 for the third with Andre McCarthy (13), in an attempt to revive the innings.

Both Palmer and McCarthy perished in the space of seven balls with the score on 62 with Scorpions four wickets down and captain Rovman Powell (29) and Javelle Glenn (13) added 39 for the fifth before Nedd accounted for both, as four wickets went down for nine runs in quick time.

Allen, who struck three fours and sixes, then added 25 for the ninth wicket with Odean Smith (17) before staging the precious last wicket partnership with Royal who belted a couple of fours and sixes in a 40-ball innings.

When off-spinner Jamie Merchant bowled Ross Powell for seven with Hurricanes on 11 for one in the fifth over, Scorpions seemed to have the advantage but a string of partnerships hauled the home side back into contention.

Kumar punched three fours off 96 deliveries, adding 36 for the second with Kieran Powell (17), 25 for the third with Keacy Carty (13) and 64 for the fourth wicket with Thomas who faced 53 balls and counted four fours.

Unbeaten on 33 at the second rain break with Hurricanes on 75 for three in the 20th over, Kumar eventually perished in the 36th over, lobbing a reserve sweep to short third man off Merchant.

The responsibility of getting Hurricanes over the line rested on Thomas but he added just four following the last rain break at 145 for four in the 37th over, before holing out to long on off seamer Dervan Green at the start of the 39th.