UNLEASH THE YOUNG LIONS

I am not a T&T or WI selector, just a former national cricketer, who like every other West Indian, feels a sense of personal loss when our teams do not fare well. Like the loss of a loved one, it hurts…yet cricket in the Caribbean is vitally important, as it is still the main thing that unites our beautiful sandy- beached islands. West Indies suffered series loses in recent tours to England and New Zealand, the latter being excruciatingly painful to endure. 

But there is a magnificent opportunity before us. Do we have the testicular fortitude to be visionary and grab hold of it? Sadly, the TTCB has not shown any recent evidence of this, but let us take a look at what beckons. There are two series that are about to take place, the West Indies tour to Bangladesh in January 2021, followed closely by the WI Regional Super 50.  Let us stay at home, as the Test and ODI teams are probably already selected as we speak. 

The TTCB has recently made significant changes internally by appointing a new Chairman of Selectors, Senior National Coach, and a senior selector…surprisingly so, after the best regional 4 day season since Daran Ganga led the national side to victory in 2005. Trials are now in full swing, as the players get set to take on the region. 

T&T is blessed with an abundance of talent. This Super 50 team will be difficult to beat, but maybe even harder to pick. I wish the selection panel the very best. I have always believed in simply picking your best team…full stop. However, one cannot ignore the bigger picture. West Indies cricket has descended into unthinkable depths. Our nation, with these quality players, must believe that they can make a significant contribution to the region. There is youthful brilliance, along with players who have served T&T with great pride and success. Getting the right mix will be critical. 

In the batting department, we can boast of Lendl and Keagan Simmons, Evin Lewis, Pooran, Daren Bravo, capt Pollard, Da Silva, Amir Jangoo, Mark Deyal, Jeremy Solozano, Jason Mohammed, Denesh Ramdin, Jyd Goolie, Isaiah Rajah, Yannick Cariah, Tion Webster…there may be more, but let us stop there for now. I dare say, 16 quality players!

The pacers include Gabriel, Ravi Rampaul, young WI players in  Seales and Phillips, Terrance Hinds, Rayad Emrit, and Uthman Muhammed. Any of these 6 would represent T&T with distinction. 

The spinners might include Imran Khan, Kharry Pierre, Akeal Hosein (all capable batters), Jon Russ Jaggessar, and possibly Brian Charles. A fine bunch indeed, and a nice mix of youth and experience. 

The wicket keepers have already been mentioned in Da Silva, Pooran, Ramdin, and Jangoo, all highly capable glove men who can be classed as batsmen in their own right, were it not for their keeping ability. 

But there can only be 11 at each match, only a squad of 14 for the series. So what do they do? Again, the rule of thumb would be to go for the very best team that we can put out on the park. If that’s the thought process, we could say that team should look like the very familiar,  captain Pollard, Simmons, Bravo Rampaul, Emrit, J Mohammed, I Khan, Ramdin, Lewis, Gabriel….that’s 10…you only need one more.  But what of the young West Indies players such as Pooran, Da Silva, Phillips, and Seales (that’s 4). We have reached 14 already, three of these will have to sit it out. Which three? Do we temporarily cease the development of perhaps some of the young West Indies players? Surely, that will be glorified insanity.

We can go on. What about exciting youthful talents such as Jangoo, Webster, Pierre, Hosein, Rajah, and Solozano…comfortably players that must be on the lips of regional selectors during their deliberations. They are not just potentially good, they have proven before that they can get the job done. They are the heroes of the future. But when is the future….tomorrow, next year, 2 years from now? I for one believe it is NOW….RIGHT NOW! Unleash the young lions! Where is the evidence? 22-year-old Josh Da Silva was thrown in against one of the toughest bowling attacks in world cricket. I do not need to repeat what he has been able to achieve. I have all confidence that captain Pollard, along with a few experienced heads worthy of selection, will lead them admirably. These youngsters must now be groomed to be the new young stars.

As West Indians, can we afford to continue to reward past heroes with time in the middle to perhaps fill their egos? Or do we strive forward, bold, and calculated in our zeal to fast-track urgent developmental needs. Are we going to be brave enough to simply do what is right? Are we going to make the tough decisions that we clearly must? I would not be so bold to propose the names for the T&T squad, let the powers that be do their job. But I live in hope that like the “new normal” times we live in, that we can quickly pivot towards rescuing what is left of our West Indian cricket legacy by heavily investing in our youth. It is either that or let us do the easy thing and allow the usual suspects to take their places across the grassy plains of the Caribbean. Then what? Let’s watch it unfold as we wish the Red Force good luck.