WEST INDIES TEST SQUAD NAMED FOR TWO-TEST SERIES

Another half century for Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Test cricket is our strong suit it's time we strengthen our 5 day team. We need talented, technically correct young players in specialist positions. 1 & 2 set. We can't have a new, inexperienced player at 3 (Hetty, Brandon King, Darren Bravo or Carty are the only serious options), A youngster must be given the #4 spot ie Athanaze, Bishop, Nandu, Mileius, #5 belongs to Da Silva . The all rounders Mayers, Chase & Holder 6 - 8, Motie, Joseph & Seales 9 - 11.

As I look at the Test Team there are some glimmers of HOPe as we build a world class team for the future. For me we already have some pieces but we still have a long way to go before being world class. These are some of the pieces we have

1) Brathwaite- captain and averages over 65 over the last 17 innings and made the ICC Test X!
2) CHANDERPAUL- has a double century and a hd century in 4 tests. Averages close to 70.
3) MAYERS - HE HAS two centuries and a five wicket haul in just 16 matches. 27 wickets from 16 games and averages over 35 with the bat. I want him batting at 5 or 6 and can move the scoreboard along.
4) Jason Holder- Best All rounder the West Indies has ever had in 30 years.
5) Alzarri Joseph - Has been remarkable in all forms over the last two years and has been our most effective bowler over that time span
6) Jayden Seales - also another revelation with 37 wickets from 10 test matches at an average of 24.24. Thats world class
7) Gudakesh Motie - best spinner and 19 wickets from 3 tests with the best match figures for a spinner ever for West Indies.
Kemar Roach - Wily Veteran with 254 wickets from 75 tests. Has not had the best year but still reliable.

Recent figures suggest there is some progress with the test team and even as you look at it the major issue we have is batting.

I am still not sold on Da Silva yet as our wicket keeper. He seems ok without being world class and he isnt delivering enough with the bat for me. I am looking to the Regional First Class tournament to see who emerges but my eyes are on Carlon Bowen Tuckett who recently played for the West Indies in the Under 19 World Cup as well as the West Indies Academy in the Super 50 cup. We will see.

I am not sold on Blackwood or Reifer in the middle order and I believe that Chase needs to be chased out of town. I again will be looking to replace those. I am anxious to see if Athanaze is the answer but I am weary of picking batsmen after just one first class century. I am still hoping that Pooran and Hetmyer somehow can play test cricket. I also am still hoping that Hope can somehow translate his success in ODIs to red ball. I am a huge Bravo fan but I dont believe a batsman can suddenly come good at 34. So he would have to score 2- 3 more centuries for me to pick him again. However I am also intrigued by Melius, Nandu and Keacy Carty with their recent form in the Four Day Tournament. So lets hope if the older set in Hope, Hetmyer, Pooran and Bravo cant do it that Melius, Carty and Nandu as the new brigade can. Note that Pooran has never been given the chance to play test cricket and the review done by Lara, Mickey Arthur and the judge did suggest that he play tests. But again I dont know if he would make himself available to play four day cricket.

Last but not least I still want Cornwall around the set up. There are obvious concerns about his fitness but I believe the weight of his performances is what we should be most conerned with.

Thats all for now. Glad to hear from you.

When West indies was in Australia the Aussies commentators talk sh** about us. What's going on in INDIA ? You all looked like a bunch of lost school boys don't know where the next run is coming from. Anyhow I am backing Khawaja.

Blackwood is probably the most positive person in the camp [the fittest too] he is obviously the consummate team man - you need men like him around. But he lacks the qualities of a good test batsman. Notwithstanding what he brings to the team I think if he doesn't come very good against SA he will be gone forever.