West Indies: Leewards advance yet still left behind
The Leeward Islands cricket team marched into the semi finals of the 2000 Red Stripe Bowl this past Monday as they slaughtered the defenseless Cayman Islands by an astounding nine wickets
Zach Kenworthy
20-Oct-2000
The Leeward Islands cricket team marched into the semi finals of the
2000 Red Stripe Bowl this past Monday as they slaughtered the
defenseless Cayman Islands by an astounding nine wickets. The Leewards
bowling attack ran through the heart of the Caymans batting as they
ripped them out for a mere 91 runs from 42 overs. The wickets for the
Leewards were pretty much shared as Goldwyn Prince, Kerry Jeremy,
Ricky Christopher and Keith Arthurton took 2 wickets apiece.
In reply, The Leewards had to score the 92 required for victory in 17
overs if they wanted to advance to the semi finals because all three
teams in the Leewards, the Windwards and Guyana would have been left
with 6 points each and run rate deciding which two teams would
advance. However, the Leewards made the slight score of 92 look
ridiculously low as they smashed 92 for 1 from just 8.3 overs.
Nevisions, Stuart Williams and Runako Morton slammed the Caymans
inexperienced bowling attack as they scored 33 and 34 not out
respectively. The score seemed as if it would have been overhauled by
the two openers, but the medium pace of Bovill undid Williams while
the total was on 59. However, the onslaught did not cease as Sylvester
`Bouncin' Joseph rushed quickly on to 10 and the Leewards fate was all
but sealed as they pummeled their way to another semi finals in
Jamaica.
It was a very comprehensive victory by the Leewards side but it can't
be said that all Leeward's fans are extremely pleased. For one, I am
not. The Leeward Islands are continually being left behind by other
regional territories throughout the Caribbean. Although the Leewards
have marched on into another semi final the broader picture is not
being looked at. The Leeward Islands team is the only regional side to
be playing a full squad without a player who has played in the West
Indies under 19 Tournament in the last two years. Jamaica is playing
Marlon Samuels, Brenton Parchment and David Bernard Jnr, while Guyana
are playing the seventeen year old Narshingh Deonarine and Barbados
are playing Ryan Hinds and Callitos Lopez. Trinidad continues to
expose its youth by playing the young spinner Rodney Sooklal and his
batting teammate Zaheer Ali. The accolades, however, must be given to
the Windwards who crushed the Leewards in Anguilla and marched on into
the semis as well while playing four youngsters who all played in the
West Indies Under 19 Tournament this year in Guyana: Kenroy Peters,
Devon Smith, Romel Currency and Shane Shillingford. All of whom have
represented their nations brilliantly so far, in particularly Currency
who, to date, has scored 136 runs at an average of 68 with a sparkling
match winning innings of 63 not out against the Leewards in Anguilla.
It is a shame that the Leewards are being left behind because of poor
selections policies and the narrow perspective of the selectors.
Speaking with Omari Banks and Chaka Hodge this weekend, both said that
they feel very disappointed that they are not being given the chance
that their counterparts are being given. Romel Currency was not even
selected to the West Indies Under 19 Team, yet Omari Banks was.
No doubt other young cricketers from the neighbouring islands are also
feeling extremely upset. Young Kittician's Eslroy Powell and Shane
Jeffers are also extremely talented, as is the young Tonitto Willet
from Nevis. There is an abundance of talented cricketers throughout
the Leeward Islands, yet we continue to look elsewhere.
It is obvious that the Leewards have done reasonably well over the
last couple of years. They made it to the finals of the Red Stripe
Bowl and the Busta Cup last year. Yet we continue to have just a
couple of picks in the West Indies squad: Ridley Jacobs and now Kerry
Jeremy. When speaking to West Indian selector Joel Garner this week he
made a very interesting comment to me and stated that the West Indies
selectors find it hard to select youngsters for the West Indian team
and `A' teams if the regional teams won't play them.
Ideas, and perspectives need to change if West Indian cricket is going
to advance at all. Australia are the champions of world cricket and
their first class setup is the reason for this. I recently listened to
star Australian batsman Justin Langer speak about his nation's
cricket and he stated that in Australia, once it is obvious that a
cricketer will never again be selected to play for Australia he
is immediately dropped from the first class side that he plays for.