Joshua of the North Zone has made a promising start – he needs encouragement and support

The young man from the North Zone (Joshua Da Silva), making his debut behind and in front the stumps for the West Indies on the tour to New Zealand, acquitted himself in the best tradition of West Indian cricket.  His keeping, without being spectacular, was efficient. His half-century in the second innings of the second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington with the West Indies in the all-too-familiar position of back up against the wall, showed that he has both the mental capacity and batting ability to play a top class innings when all seems to have been lost.  

Encouragingly, Joshua displayed a sound and technically good defence and showed-off a few shots, inclusive of the pull-shot with full control over it.  His driving on the offside also caught the eye; it has some gusto to it. 

Joshua’s innings even earned positive statements from the all-New Zealand commentary team (minus Ian Bishop) who were not overly generous to the West Indian batsmen; and we dare say that the majority of the West Indian batsmen did not by right of play and application deserve honourable mention.  The exceptions being Blackwood and Jason Holder in the last innings of the second Test.  

Da Silva, who was on a previous youth tour to New Zealand a few years ago, seems technically equipped and most importantly displayed the thinking of a batsman prepared to stay at the crease until sufficiently assured of himself to begin shot-making.

In his partnership with skipper Jason Holder on the third afternoon of the second Test, “Josh” understood his role was to give his captain the assurance that he could hold his end while Holder took on the New Zealand bowlers.  Unfortunately, that promising partnership which had the potential to bring some respectability to the West Indian total and at least make the New Zealand batsmen play a second innings, however short, ended quickly on the fourth morning with Holder being bowled.

Understanding that it was then up to him to add additional runs to the West Indian total, Joshua played a few attractive drives on the on and off side and a cut behind point which showed a glimpse of the flair West Indian batsmen have come to be known and loved for.   

If Da Silva, who plays for Queens Park in the National League, having come through St. Mary’s’, and the North Zonal Council, displayed one area to work on was the tendency to play across the line to the legside to the ball pitched on off and middle. Tellingly, it was the shot that got him out.  In today’s world of technology and constantly available replays, Da Silva’s coaches must work on that tendency. 

The initial signs are good, Josh having had a tour to England with the West Indies team earlier this year and this one to New Zealand to play on pitches on which the grass looks like the outfield of the Queen’s Park Oval, has had a good enough and encouraging start to a career in non-West Indian conditions.  

Through his promise, application and the capacity for stroke-play in a thinking and calculated manner, Da Silva is the kind of batsman that is needed to construct a team of top class West Indian batsmen.  Fact is that the West Indies cricket is in a desperate condition. 

It is the only team that has been consistently losing ground in all forms of the game, falling behind even to the “just-come” to international cricket.  

However, we all have to be careful not to make more than is necessary of what is no more than a promising start with good potential for the future for 22-year old Joshua Da Silva.  North Zone officials, Josh’s handlers and encouragers starting from Andre Lawrence and continuing through the Queen’s Park circuit have done a good job.  The support of his parents has also been significant in his development to date – let’s handle him with care and encouragement and resist any desire for lavish praise until he earns it.