WI dump Hetmyer for T20 WC; Finch rules out home advantage for Australia
MIAMI: West Indies dropped Shimron Hetmyer from the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia ater the bater missed a rescheduled flight, Cricket West Indies announced on Monday.
The 25-year-old from Guyana was replaced on the roster by Shamarh Brooks in a decision by the Cricket West Indies selection panel ater Hetmyer missed his flight to Australia, which had been moved due to family reasons.
Ater a seat was found on a Monday flight to New York, Hetmyer told CWI on Monday morning that he would be unable to get to the Guyana airport in time to make his flight to New York.
“This aternoon we informed the CWI board of directors that the selection panel had unanimously decided to replace Shimron Hetmyer with Shamarh Brooks in our T20 World Cup squad,” CWI director of cricket Jimmy Adams said.
“Whilst we changed Shimron’s flight from Saturday to Monday due to family reasons, it was made clear to him that if there were any further delays and issues with his travel to Australia then we would have no choice but to replace him in the squad, as we are not prepared to compromise the team’s ability to prepare for this extremely important global event.” Brooks will fly out later this week and miss T20 International matches against Australia on Wednesday at Gold Coast and Friday at Brisbane, instead joining the squad at Melbourne.
“Shamarh has been a part of our recent T20 International squads and delivered strong performances in the later stages of the recently concluded CPL (Caribbean Premier League),” Adams said.
The West Indies is in Group B of the T20 World Cup alongside Scotland, Ireland and Zimbabwe with the top two from the group stage advancing to the Super 12s. West Indies open Oct.17 against Scotland.
Meanwhile, Australia T20I captain Aaron Finch has said the ICC T20 World Cup taking place at home is not going to change anything in terms of the team’s preparation for the showpiece event.
The 35-year-old, who recently retired from ODI cricket mainly due to poor form over the last one year, added T20 cricket is “really difficult game” and that his side was just focusing on how to play it in the best possible manner without thinking too much about the pressure.*
“The external noise is that there is extra pressure because you’re at home and you’re defending (the World Cup),” Finch told SEN 1170 Aternoons on Tuesday.
“We haven’t talked about that (pressure) once, the reality is every time you walk and mark centre for Australia there is pressure.
“We certainly haven’t focused on that at all, we’ve been really clear with how we want to play, appreciating that T20 cricket is really difficult game,” added Finch.
Australia enter the event as favourites though Finch’s form has been patchy, with several experts urging the selectors to look at options, especially young all-rounder Cameron Green.
Finch, however, said he wants to give it his all in his final international tournament as skipper.
“I’ve always given 100 per cent of my focus to the next game or series, in terms of planning and preparation, I don’t think it’s any sharper, but I’m a litle bit more clear minded I guess,” Finch said.
“I haven’t looked beyond these first two games (two-match T20I series) against the West Indies (before the World Cup) to be honest, in the background in the months leading up to a big block like this; you do a lot of planning and preparation as a captain.
“The closer you get to a series or tournament all of the decisions are already made and there might just be some tinkering here and there that selectors and coach want to do. That gives the playing group in particular, full focus for the next series,” he added.