Selectors' choices win approval
There was general satisfaction,with the 15-member West Indies team selected for the tour of England
Philip Spooner
03-May-2007
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Former West Indies pacer and current cricket commentator Ian Bishop was glad to see Trinidad and Tobago pacer Ravi Rampaul back in the side. "I am happy he has worked his way back to the West Indies team." Bishop said. Looking at the bowling department, Bishop explained that it would have been "ideal" to include more variety but that two factors would have weighed on the selectors' minds.
" Pedro Collins, whether he is fit at this point would have been under strong consideration and he will be a little disappointed not to have forced his way on this team. And secondly, the time of year would have possibly worked against the inclusion of a spinner as early May is when the seamers do more work than the spinners in England." Bishop was also happy to see the return of Darren Sammy.
Queen's Park Cricket Club executive manager and former Windies Test player Bryan Davis said he did not disagree too much with the selectors. "It seems that they were thinking about the England conditions and didn't think Dave Mohammed would be up to the task. I would still like to have seen more variety in the bowling. Pedro Collins, with his left hand seamers, he would have been a difference." But Davis said he liked the selection of Fidel Edwards, Rampaul and Sammy.
Former chief West Indies selector Joey Carew said: "I can't criticise the selections. The fact that [Marlon] Samuels and [Pedro] Collins are not there is noticeable. I thought they would have chosen a spinner, Dave Mohammed, but they may think he is not up to Test standard."
Carew added that the attitude and togetherness of the team were much more important to him than the bare results. "I want to see team spirit and see them play together and look like a potent team, and I hope we will play some competitive cricket."