Former West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan has been appointed as the third member of the Men’s Senior Selection Panel. In an announcement today, Cricket West Indies revealed that the 41-year-old former middle-order batsman will join lead selector Desmond Haynes and head coach Phil Simmons on the Senior Selection Panel and …
Read More »McWatt and ‘Reds’: WI cricket history and coaches in schools, a CPL rejig and other 2022 recommendations
“[…] CWI must request the governments of its member countries to mandate, by September 2022, the addition of West Indies cricket history to the curriculum of all primary and secondary schools within the region. “CWI should similarly ask governments to also mandate the addition of a paid cricket coach to …
Read More »Media Monitor: Why CWI Media’s Covid-enforced changes would not have cramped Cozier’s style
Kraigg Brathwaite embarrassed us all in the second innings of the Second Test in Sri Lanka last month but few seemed to notice. The West Indies Test skipper finished with 1/11 in his five overs after ending a troublesome 51-run sixth wicket partnership by having Ramesh Mendis caught by Kemar …
Read More »McWatt and ‘Reds’: Hayley, Seales and Brathwaite shine in 2021, but results, fitness and selections stink
“[…] Since making his debut on 10 June against South Africa, 20-year-old Jayden Seales has captured 16 wickets in just four Tests, while demonstrating the pace and accuracy that are the hallmarks of all great fast bowlers. “[…] However, during 2021, the West Indies’ […] final win/loss ratio was a …
Read More »Media Monitor: Maroon maulings, batting blues but blackout on WI batting coach Monty Desai
Where, pray, is Monty Desai? And what, pray, does the current West Indies batting coach contribute to regional cricket? I think those are two questions that need urgent answers. But I really don’t know whether—should we decide to direct them to CWI media officer Dario Barthley or through him—they will …
Read More »Farewell Harper, welcome Sherfane! McWatt and ‘Reds’ suggest 15 WI players to new CWI selectors
“[…] Assuming everyone is fully fit and in sufficiently good form, if the 2022 World Cup 15-member squad were to be picked today, there would be at least eight players who would be considered by most to be automatic selections. “Discounting Kieron Pollard’s participation in any possible manner, the referenced …
Read More »CWI axes selectors Harper, Bascombe; head coach Simmons to lead pro-tem panel
Appointed as lead selector for two years in mid-October 2019, Roger Harper got a two-month extension until the end of the current year. But that’s it! Cricket West Indies today announced that neither the former off-spinner nor Miles Bascombe, the second member of the three-member panel, will have his contract …
Read More »Battling Covid-19 and Azam in Karachi; things look brown for Pooran’s green Maroon Men
And then there were 12. The 2012 and 2016 T20 World Cup champions West Indies will start a 3-match T20I series against Pakistan with a team which sees several different names on the team sheet when compared to the team which represented the region in such eminently forgettable fashion at …
Read More »McWatt and ‘Reds’: Pooran can establish himself against Pakistan, but Gayle farewell against Ireland is absurd
“[…] Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) most recent indication of its intention to use next year’s scheduled 16 January T20I against Ireland as a circus-type grand farewell for Chris Gayle is further evidence of its lack of proper governance of our cricket. “In its haste to appease the self-appointed ‘Universe Boss’ …
Read More »McWatt and Reds: Brilliant Permaul, stubborn Blackwood and SOS for a leg-spin coach after Sri Lanka series
“[…] The very first order of business […] must be for us to immediately place our order for a very large double serving of curried crow, with some Guyanese plain rice on the side […] following the totally unanticipated, on our part at least, outstanding Second Test bowling performance of …
Read More »Media Monitor: Simmons to blame for pathetic WI? Howzat for ‘responsible’ journalism?!
Current West Indies coach Phil Simmons is a lucky man. Replying to Sri Lanka’s 386 all out in the First Test in Galle last month, Kraigg Brathwaite’s West Indies reached a precarious 100 for 6 in their first innings. And then, chasing 348 for victory, they found themselves at a …
Read More »Ineffective spinners and poor strike rotation! McWatt and ‘Reds’ suggest WI changes against Sri Lanka
“[…] The inability of both Rahkeem Cornwall and Jomel Warrican to be anywhere close to as effective as Sri Lanka’s spinners on the benevolent Galle Stadium pitch should now establish once and for all their inadequacy as Test match bowlers. “The same pitch on which they toiled so ineffectively to …
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