There has been no official announcement of the West Indies squad which will play 4 Tests against India starting from 21 July, but there seems to have been some backroom intrigue already having taken place. Former skipper and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin has sent out a series of tweets in which he lets his fans know that he will not be part of the India series and ridicules the newly instated Chairman of Selectors Courtney Brown.
It appears that Ramdin’s batting average was cited as the reason why he would not be picked in a private conversation by Brown, who was also a wicketkeeper for West Indies between 1995 and 2005. Ramdin averages 25.87 in 74 Tests. This figure, alongwith his 4 centuries, makes him the most prolific batsman among West Indies wicketkeepers of all time.
Ramdin stresses that his last two Test scores were 59 and 62 against Australia, and how strangely this sits with the axeing. He also goes on to say how Browne had a batting average of 16 himself and how he could never manage a century. Such comments against the former player and current administrator, though obviously coming from anger and frustration, come across as rather immature. An administrator’s acumen can hardly be judged by his batting average.
A 12-man squad was named on Wednesday to meet the travelling Indians in a two-day warm-up match on July 9 and 10, including Test players Jermaine Blackwood, Rajendra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope and Jomel Warrican.
There has been no final Test squad announcement yet, but from latest developments, it would appear that either of Johnson Charles or Andre Fletcher might be standing behind the wickets. Both limited overs specialists, they are yet to get their first Test cap.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download Cric Rocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more!
