Adams still in picture - thorny issue

I wouldn't be surprised if Jimmy Adams is retained as West Indies captain.

And I think he is leaving it up to the discretion of the selectors to either keep him or dump him for the forthcoming series against South Africa.

This is a man who is a renowned fighter prepared to fight to keep his name in the selectors' hat when they meet to make their choice.

Some might be thinking it is too late for Adams to save his job after the West Indies' caning in Australia and several unfavourable comments about his on-field leadership. But, who knows? A birdie might have whispered something sweet in his ears so he's decided to chance his hand so to speak.

Never regarded as the adventurous type, Adams has always been very deliberate and measured in everything he does on the cricket field. But his own wretched form would make it extremely difficult for him to gain the confidence of his charges.

What might be going in Adams' favour is that the selectors might be short on alternatives and after agonising over the issue they might be forced to stay with him.

I don't believe, like some, that he'll be given a probationary period to prove himself like Brian Lara was after the ill-fated tour of South Africa.

Adams will either be given the job or given the boot. There'll be no middle ground.

I believe Lara is the man the selectors really want to take the reins again but he does not appear as if he is ready to condescend to their wishes.

So we are left with Sherwin Campbell, the current vice-captain, who, like Adams, was very short of runs in Australia.

In addition, he would have compromised his promotion to the top because, again, the leader needs to lead by example to get the best out of his colleagues.

Ridley Jacobs played his best cricket in Australia since the South African trip but might be lacking in experience as a captain. So, I won't risk him against the tough South Africans even though we will play better at home.

This leaves us with the possibility that the prodigal son of West Indies cricket, Carl Hooper, whose rich form in the Busta Cup justifies his place in the team, might be considered seriously for the captaincy.

As a rounded, skilled cricketer and one who will be assured of the respect of the team, he looks like the only other option, even though the selectors, like his detractors, might need to be convinced about his commitment to West Indies cricket.

If there's any lingering doubt about this you can be assured that he won't get the pick. But, primarily because there are limited bona fide choices, he has an outside chance and will be my choice given the factors stated above. But obviously Jimmy Adams is still very much in the picture.

At least in his own eyes.