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. 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.