Under threat!
Sir Curtly warns senior Windies players youngsters may render them redundant
LEGENDARY SPEEDSTER Sir Curtly Ambrose has praised West Indies’ outstanding performance in the ongoing Test series in Bangladesh, and says the form of the players could keep the first choice picks out of the squad in upcoming series.
Ten regular players, including five who represented the core of the Test side’s batting, declined selection for the two-Test tour due to COVID-19 fears forcing selectors to turn to a number of debutants.
Faced with a full strength home side in the first Test, an understrength West Indies defied the odds to trounce Bangladesh by three wickets after chasing down 395 on the final day on Sunday.
RECORD FOUTH-WICKET STAND
At the heart of the victory were two debutants in Kyle Mayers, who hit an unbeaten 210 and Nkrumah Bonner who struck 86, the duo putting on 216 in a record fourth-wicket stand. “Like most West Indians, I’m extremely happy for the guys,” Sir Curtly, a member of the television commentary team for the Super50 Cup, said here yesterday.
“Not too many cricket lovers gave them any chance of beating Bangladesh, and to have won that game in that fashion, was so refreshing. I’m so excited for the guys. “And most people talk about second string, I don’t like those words because these guys are the next in line of what we had, so therefore I’m so happy they’ve done well and shown all the negative ones who think they can’t do it at this level.
“So 1-0 up, into the second [Test] we’re doing extremely well … 400plus in the first innings, contributions
all around and I’m hoping they go on to win the second Test.”
With first choice gloveman Shane Dowrich also opting out of the tour for personal reasons, his absence meant a spot for rookie wicketkeeperbatsman, Joshua Da Silva, who had played only a single Test prior to the series.
However, Da Silva made 42 and 20 in the opening Test and then followed up with a top score of 92 on the second day of the second Test yesterday, to press his case for a permanent place in the squad.
And with Darren Bravo (32 runs), Roston Chase (17) and Shamarh Brooks (53 runs) all enduring poor form on the tour of New Zealand in December, the enterprise of the batsmen on the Bangladesh tour is now expected give selectors increased options for pending home tours, a fact acknowledged by Sir Curtly.
“Most of these guys are still young and they got an opportunity to impress and they certainly did that,” Ambrose said.
“Now it’s going to make selection extremely difficult come the next series because in my opinion, some of the guys must play so the guys that did not go Bangladesh, some of them are going to miss out.
“But the main fact and the great thing about it is that West Indies cricket looks good for the future.”