1. Kraigg "Paint" Brathwaite
We've been calling for Paint for almost a year, and he's finally here. Brathwaite needs to open, drop anchor and bat slowly in all test games. He needs to understand that it is his job to blunt the enemy bowlers, to get them tired, and to let his teammates bat around him. Facing the new ball is tough, lasting is tougher, and he will need to focus like hell. After he made his 100 yesterday, he got tired. When tired, he needs to learn to block out one to three overs, take a rest on the pitch, and then re-focus and start going again. Brathwaite has a tendency to get out cheaply for ducks, popping it back at the bowler or driving lazily into the arms of fielders within the circle. Still, in yesterday's game, he showed a side of himself which we've not seen before; he upped his strike rate and hit some fine, dashing boundaries.
2. As Brathwaite is a right hander, we need a lefty here. But who? Tell me. We can put Simmons, but he's a right hander too. Another clever option is to promote a different bowler to open every game and give this bowler a license to block, swipe or get some batting practise. This will shield our number 3 from the new ball and give our tail some time in the middle.
3. Kirk Edwards third. Edwards is fun when he's smashing balls, but has major weaknesses. He cant handle movement, swipes and edges anything wide on the offside, misjudges balls and lets them hit his stumps and loves getting Lbwed. Keep Edwards on a short leash: if he fails 3 innings in a row, drop him. The selectors must be ruthless. We have enough replacements for everybody.
4. Darren Bravo fourth. Looks good when in full flow, but has big flaws too. His on-side game is still weak and when playing in front the pad is prone to misjudge and get lbw. Keeps getting out lazily. Loves throwing away his wicket.
5. Blackwood. We don't know if he can bat yet. Note that this number five spot is also being contested by Simmons, Gayle, Pollard, Leon and Dwayne Bravo. Who goes here? Why? Tell me.
6. Chanderpaul.
7. Ramdin. Needs to make runs, because Simmons, also a keeper, is in prime form with the bat and we can't have good players waiting in the wings.
8. Jason Holder - support bowler. We need to get Holder playing and improving his speed. If not Holder, who else? Do we like Gabriel, Carlos Brathwaite and Cotterel? Who else do we have?
9. Narine/Benn/Badree - one spin bowler must play all test games. Don't let Shillingford play for the West Indies again. We aint wasting time with his long sleeves anymore.
10. Roach - main pace bowler. To prevent breakdown, groom another pacer to work alongside him. But who?
11. Taylor - main pace bowler. To prevent breakdown, groom another pacer to work alongside him. But who? Without Pollard, Dwayne or Simmons, we have no all-rounders who can also bowl.
We've been calling for Paint for almost a year, and he's finally here. Brathwaite needs to open, drop anchor and bat slowly in all test games. He needs to understand that it is his job to blunt the enemy bowlers, to get them tired, and to let his teammates bat around him. Facing the new ball is tough, lasting is tougher, and he will need to focus like hell. After he made his 100 yesterday, he got tired. When tired, he needs to learn to block out one to three overs, take a rest on the pitch, and then re-focus and start going again. Brathwaite has a tendency to get out cheaply for ducks, popping it back at the bowler or driving lazily into the arms of fielders within the circle. Still, in yesterday's game, he showed a side of himself which we've not seen before; he upped his strike rate and hit some fine, dashing boundaries.
2. As Brathwaite is a right hander, we need a lefty here. But who? Tell me. We can put Simmons, but he's a right hander too. Another clever option is to promote a different bowler to open every game and give this bowler a license to block, swipe or get some batting practise. This will shield our number 3 from the new ball and give our tail some time in the middle.
3. Kirk Edwards third. Edwards is fun when he's smashing balls, but has major weaknesses. He cant handle movement, swipes and edges anything wide on the offside, misjudges balls and lets them hit his stumps and loves getting Lbwed. Keep Edwards on a short leash: if he fails 3 innings in a row, drop him. The selectors must be ruthless. We have enough replacements for everybody.
4. Darren Bravo fourth. Looks good when in full flow, but has big flaws too. His on-side game is still weak and when playing in front the pad is prone to misjudge and get lbw. Keeps getting out lazily. Loves throwing away his wicket.
5. Blackwood. We don't know if he can bat yet. Note that this number five spot is also being contested by Simmons, Gayle, Pollard, Leon and Dwayne Bravo. Who goes here? Why? Tell me.
6. Chanderpaul.
7. Ramdin. Needs to make runs, because Simmons, also a keeper, is in prime form with the bat and we can't have good players waiting in the wings.
8. Jason Holder - support bowler. We need to get Holder playing and improving his speed. If not Holder, who else? Do we like Gabriel, Carlos Brathwaite and Cotterel? Who else do we have?
9. Narine/Benn/Badree - one spin bowler must play all test games. Don't let Shillingford play for the West Indies again. We aint wasting time with his long sleeves anymore.
10. Roach - main pace bowler. To prevent breakdown, groom another pacer to work alongside him. But who?
11. Taylor - main pace bowler. To prevent breakdown, groom another pacer to work alongside him. But who? Without Pollard, Dwayne or Simmons, we have no all-rounders who can also bowl.
