WI local:Graham. Nayers hard done by

Based on what was available-or what the selectors made available to them-the selection of the Barbados team for the opening Busta Cup match was fairly predictable.

Both Shirley Clarke and Corey Glasgow are deserving of a debut regional firstclass cap.

Clarke is finally transferring his prolific scoring of the 1995 and 1996 regional youth championships to the Division 1 level.

For some time now, Glasgow has been regarded as a wicket-keeper with immense potential and the unavailability of Courtney Browne gives him a chance to showcase his ability at a higher level.

My concerns stretch beyond the selection of the team.

Once the selectors had reduced their squad to 22 a week ago, the final 13 would have been straightforward to come up with.

The bone of contention was with the squad shortlisted.

It contained a heavy bias on youth and you cannot fault the selectors for that. But by picking so many teenagers, there were many players still relatively young who were by-passed. And some had good credentials too.

Shawn Graham, 23, has been a consistent scorer at club level for at least the last five seasons.

His more than 450 runs made him Empire's leading run-scorer in this season's Division 1 competition, yet he was unable to make the final 22 and could not get a recommendation for the West Indies "B" team.

Antonio Mayers, 21, was in the Barbados team for the Red Stripe Bowl in October. He is another who did not make the 22 or receive recommendation for the West Indies "B" side.

The four Barbadians who have been put forward for that side are Jason Parris, Kurt Wilkinson, Sulieman Benn and Marlon Franklyn.

All are promising, but with the exception of Benn, none has been able to string together consistent seasons at club level. Parris, however, has performed commendably this season. Franklyn has bowled impressively in recent weeks since joining Carlton in mid-season, but Wilkinson is yet to match his performances of youth level.

Another issue which raises eyebrows is the selection of the West Indies "B" team.

It is expected that each of the six territorial teams will recommend four players to the senior West Indies selection panel, who will then finalise the squad.

The selection of that team should not rest squarely with the West Indies senior panel in light of the fact that many of the nominees will be uncapped regional first-class players, as is the case with Wilkinson, Parris and Franklyn. Three of the Leeward Islands' contenders-Chaka Hodge, Tonito Willett and Shane Jeffers-are also uncapped.

Mike Findlay and his panel, therefore, would have seen little of them at whatever level.

In the circumstances, I feel the West Indies junior panel comprising Clyde Butts, Ezra Moseley and Robert Haynes, along with the West Indies Cricket Board's junior coach Gus Logie and director of coaching Reg Scarlett, should also play a part in selecting the squad.