Headley-Weekes Tri-series: Savory, Imlach, Charles should have been selected

-says Reds Perreira

By Brandon Corlette

The new First-Class cricket tri-series, Headley-Weekes, will bowl off on April 19 in Antigua, and veteran Cricket Commentator Joseph “Reds” Perreira has made some valuable observations.
He is suggesting that Kemol Savory, Tevin Imlach and Bryan Charles should have been selected to play in the series.
Savory, wicketkeeper/batter for Guyana Harpy Eagles, finished as the ninth leading run-scorer in the recently concluded West Indies Championship. Left-handed, he is regarded as the Prince of Essequibo. He finished with 269 runs at an average of 33, and also recorded a century during his debut season.

Trinidadian off-spinner Bryan Charles, who has been in and around the West Indies ‘A’ team and President’s XI set-up, has also missed selection despite claiming 21 wickets and finishing as the fourth-highest wicket-taker.
Tevin Imlach is a wicket-keeper/batter who has also been in West Indies wicket-keeper camps and in and around the West Indies ‘A’ team. Despite not dominating the West Indies Championship, Imlach scored 223 runs, with a high-score of 136 not out.

“Imlach is a pathway player. He is a former West Indies Under-19 player, and he is going to take over from Anthony Bramble,” Reds said.
The veteran commentator also noted that Tion Webster, who scored 261 runs; and Terrance Hinds, who had eight wickets and scored 213 runs, should have been selected. Reds also called for Preston McSween, Colin Archibald, Sherman Lewis and Abhijai Mansingh to be selected.
“Sherman Lewis played for the West Indies. He needs to be kept in the frame. Mansingh, the leg-spinner, should have been selected. He is a rare breed in the West Indies. They could have boosted up the West Indies Academy side with young First-Class players in Kimani Melius and Matthew Nandu, both of whom scored centuries, despite they did not score much runs after that,” Reds explained.
Reds believed that senior players should have been brought in to lead the West Indies Academy. “I would have picked three strong teams and disperse the Academy in the three teams. When they played by themselves, they struggled, they had no one that helped build partnership and maintain pressure. We need more First-Class cricket and we need to ensure that First-Class cricket is at the highest level,” he has said.

Reds also asked why West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite is not playing this series. He noted that Jermaine Blackwood and Roston Chase should be playing, to get some cricket under their belts ahead of the India Test series this summer.

FULL SQUADS
Team Headley: Joshua Da Silva (captain), Sunil Ambris, Darren Bravo, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Chaim Holder, Akeem Jordan, Marquino Mindley, Shayne Moseley, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Kieran Powell, Tevyn Walcott.
Team Weekes: Alick Athanaze (captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Keacy Carty, Dominic Drakes, Jahmar Hamilton, Brandon King, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Veerasammy Permaul, Raymon Reifer, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith and Devon Thomas.
West Indies Academy: Kevlon Anderson, Ackeem Auguste, Joshua Bishop, Teddy Bishop, McKenny Clarke, Rivaldo Clarke, Joshua James, Johann Layne, Kirk McKenzie, Ashmead Nedd, Kelvin Pitman, Keagan Simmons, Ramon Simmonds, Kevin Wickham and Nyeem Young.
NOTES: Shai Hope was selected but was given permission to represent Yorkshire in the English County Championship. Rahkeem Cornwall and Shane Dowrich made themselves unavailable for selection.

MATCH SCHEDULE
All matches to be played at CCG, Antigua
Match 1: 19-22 April: Team Headley vs West Indies Academy.
Match 2: 26-29 April: Team Weekes vs West Indies Academy.
Match 3: 3-6 May: Team Weekes vs Team Headley.