It’s back to the drawing board for Shai Hope

By Brandon Corlette

Who executes the sweetest cover drive in the Caribbean currently? Which Caribbean batsman is as technically correct as Shai Hope? Not many names can be proffered in these respects, but after continuous failures in Test cricket, Hope has finally received the axe.
In Hope’s last six Test innings, he scored 105 runs at an average of 17.5. He had similarly failed back in 2018 and in 2019 as well.
West Indies Lead Selector Roger Harper, speaking about Hope’s omission from the Test squad, had this to say: “Shai is a player who I think has a tremendous future in Test cricket; but, at the moment, he needs to reorganise his Test match game and get his batting in the longest version back to its best.”
Hope’s last golden performance in Test cricket came a lifetime ago: back in 2017, when he produced magic at Headingly in scoring twin centuries against England. In 2017, Hope scored 773 runs in 19 innings at an average of 45.5. Thereafter, Hope began to perform strong in ODI cricket, but his Test performances dipped.
Harper added that Hope performed very well in the 50-over version, but, in Test cricket, he’s not been anywhere close to his best, and this has gone on for an extended period.

“Sometimes, by continuing to select a player, you do them more harm than good. So, we’ve given him an opportunity to go away and work on his game. The head coach, Phil Simmons, has put a programme in place to help him get back to his best; he’s not being left to his own devices,” Harper explained.
“He has an important part to play in the future of West Indies Cricket. There’s a tremendous future for him in Test cricket, but he needs to get his batting back to where we know it can be. That’s what this is about: giving him that opportunity to find his mojo again in Test cricket, and come back a stronger and better player,” Harper further detailed.

Harper said Shai Hope is a practical person, and he handled the news of his omission well.
“I spoke to Shai and told him how he needs to work on his game. He is very smart, and he understands that he has not been at his best, and he took it in very good spirits and for what it was; and I expect that he will work hard and return to that high standard,” Harper explained.
The class act Shai Hope last played for Barbados Pride back in 2017. Since he is back to the drawing board, he is expected to return to the Pride’s fold when Regional 4-Day cricket returns.