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“[…] I would replace Jason Holder with Sunil Narine. Holder has not performed consistently with the bat since the 2018 ODI series against India, with the exception of a short cameo against Australia at the World Cup. And his bowling has been so non-aggressive that he has gone for a huge number of runs.
“I think Narine’s explosive batting and, more importantly, his wealth of bowling experience in the Indian conditions—once his action doesn’t undergo any more modifications—make him a more reliable pick…”
The following Letter to the Editor on a possible West Indies ODI squad to face Sri Lanka was submitted to Wired868 by Vrishab Geetha:
(Copyright Nicholas Bhajan/CA-Images/Wired868)
To [Francis Warner] who posted his ideas on how the ODI squad for the Sri Lanka series should pan out, I have a few thoughts on the squad that you suggested.
Evin Lewis and Shai Hope are sure starters in the ODI squad along with Shimron Hetmyer; but one person whom I’m not particularly impressed with is Roston Chase. Although Chase has great technique, his tempo thorough the innings of a one day game remains lethargic and conservative, as though it is a test match.
Chase seems reluctant to take chances at loose flighted deliveries and instead hits them along the ground, whereas the likes of Hope and even Alzarri Joseph would effortlessly dispatch them to the boundary. And he does this throughout the innings until the final 10 overs, which builds up too much pressure for quick runs.
I feel Chandrapaul Hemraj would be a better pick. Hemraj can also bowl left arm spin and although he does not have a staggering record in terms of wickets, he is great at containing batsmen while his own batting has gotten better.
I feel with Hemraj’s inclusion at number three, we can finally push Hetmyer down to number four where he has found better success, as shown in his first century against Bangladesh.
Nicholas Pooran is an obvious inclusion at five with captain Kieron Pollard at six. But here is where I have a suggestion that people may oppose. I would replace Jason Holder with Sunil Narine.
Holder has not performed consistently with the bat since the 2018 ODI series against India, with the exception of a short cameo against Australia at the World Cup. And his bowling has been so non-aggressive that he has gone for a huge number of runs.
I think Narine’s explosive batting and, more importantly, his wealth of bowling experience in the Indian conditions—once his action doesn’t undergo any more modifications—make him a more reliable pick.
The next person would be Akeal Hosein who played so well in Bangladesh and should be nurtured and allowed to grow for the showpiece tournament in 2023. Hosein, Narine and Hemraj and may be our answer to India’s deadly spin trio of Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
Now comes the trio of fast bowlers where bold calls must he taken. For me, Sheldon Cottrell must be dropped. How can he remain in the squad when he has taken only six wickets in this format for the past three series while being hammered by the opposition?
(via Cricketcountry.com)
I feel Alzarri Joseph is the only fast bowler who is a sure starter.
My second choice is Chemar Holder, although his debut against Bangladesh didn’t go particularly well. I feel in home conditions, Chemar—whose action and release reminds me of England’s Jofra Archer—will fare better, and given time he will bowl variations. His ability to bowl at speeds in excess of 90mph will definitely be a boost to our attack, which at times doesn’t seem fast enough.
If his basics are executed right, along with the right line and length and proper support from the other bowlers, I see no reason why Chemar wouldn’t be one of the premiers fast bowlers in the world.
Are the selectors willing to give a promising slippery bowler a chance? Or will they go back to the experienced but inconsistent Cottrell?
Now I must confess that I am not certain about my third and final bowler. So I would rotate between Oshane Thomas, who can bowl 90mph+ but can be just as inconsistent and flat as Cottrell, with Jayden Seales, a young fast bowler who has been making quite the noise.
Both are fine bowlers and offer a dilemma that captain Pollard, coach Phil Simmons and the rest of the squad need to solve.
(via Barbados Today)
My West Indies ODI Squad:
1-Shai Hope (WK)
2-Evin Lewis
3-Chandrapaul Hemraj
4-Shimron Hetmyer
5-Nicholas Pooran
6-Kieron Pollard
7-Sunil Narine
8-Alzarri Joseph
9-Chemar Holder
10-Akeal Hosein
11-Oshane Thomas/ Jayden Seales
(Copyright AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Rest of the Squad
13-Rovman Powell
14-Romario Shepherd
15-Hayden Walsh Jr
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You make the case well for your final XI but I remain unconvinced. How can you justify selecting Hetmyer after what we have consistently got from him?
Will he ever read the Hugh Brisse text if we continue to pick him with no alteration to his approach? You’re happy with one possible century and eleven harakiris in 12 knocks?
Not I!
Yes I absolutely agree with your point here as well. Yes Hetmyer is hotheaded with liitle or no value for his wicket and disappointingly inconsistent at times but he is somebody who can have a string of single digit scores for four or five games but all of a sudden decide to come out and smash a centurion along with a period of consistency and he according to me resembles the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Rishabh Pant , the latter which pulled of a stunning victory at the Gabba not too long ago amd Glenn Maxwell who had a torrid time at the IPL came back firing on all cylinders against India and earlier against England.
I believe that we must give Hetmyer another shot but he must be warned. Inconsistent performances will ultimately lead to him being dropped. From now on we must adopt a proper aproach in our team selections and we must look at the bigger picture in mind that is the 2023 CWC. We must start planning from now on and see who fits into the 15 man squad for the showpiece amd more importantly who makes it to the 11. We cannot have a repeat of 2019 in which playeds like Andre Russell who hasn’t played an ODI in 4 years except for the one against Sri Lanka in 2015 immediately after the conclusion of the 2015 CWC which also If I remember he got injured half way through and didn’t finsh the game but still was selected ahead of somebody like Rovman Powell who could have provided much more consistent performances. So I must conclude that for now Hetmyer must be given the nod but I absolutely agreee with your thoughts here and thank you for sharing it with everybody.