Hinds ‘a natural'

Ryan Hinds, one of the region's most talented young players, has been given high marks by two highly-rated former West Indies players.

Speaking to the Weekend Nation in separate interviews Desmond Haynes, the former West Indies opener, and Ian Bishop, a West Indies fast bowler only two years ago, both agreed that Hinds' should be elevated to international duty.

Haynes, the most capped Barbadian Test cricketer with 116 Tests, thinks that Hinds should be selected in the touring party for England this summer.

He said the teenager is in danger of stagnating if he is not encouraged as the region is limited to only a handful of first-class matches. He said the upcoming tour of England is the ideal opportunity to blood a player with such potential.

I believe he is Test match material, Haynes said of the left-hander who turned 19 yesterday. He has the best cricket, batting technique in the Caribbean and the sooner the West Indies selectors promote him the better.

When he is at the wicket the bowling does not look as though it is doing a great deal. Years ago, people used to say a player looked like he had a lot of time to play his shot. What they really meant was that the player had good technique in terms of balance, said Haynes who took over as chairman of national selectors in January.

Hinds has the make-up and has what it takes.

Bishop, who was Trinidad and Tobago's captain when Hinds made his maiden first-class half-century last year, said: There is no doubt he is one for the future. You can see he is a tremendous talent, by the way he handles himself on the field, and he has a level, mature head on his shoulders.

Hinds has made steady if not spectacular progress since his introduction to the Barbados senior team for the Commonwealth Games in September, 1998.