Barbados: All-Rounders Suggested As Replacements On Team (23 Sep 1998)

23 September 1998

Barbados: All-Rounders Suggested As Replacements On Team

by Philip Spooner

Former Barbados Manager David Holford has proposed that all-rounders Ian Bradshaw and Antonio Mayers should be two of the replacements for Ottis Gibson, Vasbert Drakes and Mark Lavine in the upcoming Red Stripe Bowl.

Gibson, Drakes and Lavine, who went to the Commonwealth Games, declared themselves unavailable for the regional competition.

Holford, who managed the national side in last year's competition in Guyana, said the selectors should look at maintaining the same balance they had before.

"It's going to be difficult to find all-rounders of that calibre: all three, competent batsmen and good bowlers," Holford, a former chairman of West Indies selectors, said.

"This sort of situation might be a bit upsetting for the selectors, however, as it will no doubt disrupt their plans.

"We might then find a situation that when the three players return the replacements might have to take a backseat."

Holford said that the trio's withdrawal had altered the balance of the side and the selectors would have to look at their resources.

He suggested that in Bradshaw and Mayers Barbados had two young players who could do the job.

He was impressed with the way Bradshaw performed in Guyana last year. The 24-year-old left-handed batsman, who also bowls medium-pace, hit a half-century against the Leeward Islands and played other important innings.

"He was outstanding last year and there is no reason why he should not get another chance now that the three are away," Holford said.

He added that Mayers, a 19-year-old medium-pace all-rounder from Cable & Wireless BET, was a good prospect and should be given the chance to launch his career.

There were others Holford felt could come into the reckoning when the selectors met later this week to select the 14-man squad.

He noted that experienced United Carlton seamer Hendy Broomes was an option "if they wanted someone to bowl tight", while talented fast bowler Corey Collymore could be in the running.

Holford, a former West Indies leg-spinning all-rounder, said Dave Marshall, Terry Rollock, Ryan Hurley had a chance of making the team, depending on what balance the selectors wanted to strike.

All three are spinning all-rounders and have experience at the regional level. Marshall played in last year's Bowl, Hurley was part of the 1996 team, while Rollock was part of this year squad in the first-class competition.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)