The West Indies cricket team, having missed their chance to participate in the World Cup for the first time, is preparing for a new beginning with the announcement of their 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against England. The team has appointed Shai Hope as the captain, with fast bowler Alzarri Joseph serving as vice-captain under the guidance of head coach Darren Sammy.
The series, scheduled to take place from December 3 to 9, marks a crucial phase for the West Indies as they aim to rebuild and refocus their ODI strategy. The squad sees the return of 31-year-old Shane Dowrich, who last played an ODI in 2019. Kjorn Ottley, who has two ODI caps from January 2021, also makes a comeback to the squad.
In an effort to infuse fresh talent, the selection committee has included two uncapped players: batting all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford and seam bowling all-rounder Matthew Forde. This move indicates the team's intention to experiment with new combinations and strategies.
The squad, however, will miss the presence of Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder, who were unavailable for selection. Notably, the West Indies have continued to exclude Darren Bravo, despite his impressive performance in the domestic 50-over tournament, where he was the top-scorer with 416 runs at an average of over 80. Bravo's last appearance for the West Indies was in January 2022.
The selection decisions, particularly the omission of Darren Bravo, sparked controversy. Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo publicly expressed his dissatisfaction on social media. Criticizing selector Desmond Haynes, he alleged failures in the West Indies cricket system. Dwayne Bravo's statement highlighted the need for fairness in the selection process and expressed his disappointment, especially given the recent appointment of Darren Sammy as head coach.
"When will the BS stop?! ?? I'm not surprised by my brother's non-selection, but with the recent changes in WI cricket management, I held onto a bit of hope for the better. This is NOT acceptable, and I just can't make sense of it! So here are my burning questions: What are the criteria for West Indies team selection? Surely, it can't be solely based on performance?" Dwayne Bravo wrote in an Instagram post.
"For two seasons, my brother showcased exceptional talent, becoming the leading run-scorer in the latest tournament with over 400 runs, a batting average of 83.2, and an SR of 92. I usually stay away from these discussions, but the mistreatment, disrespect, and dishonesty towards players over the years demand a voice. When will it stop? When will this BS actually stop?
"I hoped for trust in the system with figures like you, Sammy, and the new director of cricket, but the system failed again," he added.
The selection and the ensuing debate underscore the challenges faced by West Indies cricket in balancing performance, experience, and emerging talent as they prepare to face England in the upcoming series.
West Indies ODI squad: Shai Hope (captain), Alzarri Joseph (vice-captain), Alick Athanaze, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Kjorn Ottley, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas
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