Pooran being seriously considered for Test-set up – Harper
By Brandon Corlette
Prior to the official announcement of the Test squad to tour New Zealand, numerous calls were made for the inclusion of Nicholas Pooran.
Pooran scored one century in his ODI career thus far
However, Pooran will have to wait a bit longer to rock the West Indies Test kit since he was only named in the T20 squad for that New Zealand tour.
“There was a lot of consideration given to Nicholas Pooran; we are still looking at it and I am sure as we move forward, Pooran will have opportunity as well,” West Indies Lead Selector Roger Harper disclosed.
Flashback: Pooran has played only three First-Class matches
Harper had indicated that some of the players in the T20 squad, including Pooran and the five Test reserves, will have an opportunity to play for the West Indies A team in two First-Class matches while the Test matches are being played.
There is no absolute rule that said Pooran has to play 4-day cricket, but Harper had indicated that this was a decision that the selection panel decided to take and in the two First-Class matches on the New Zealand tour, Pooran will have that opportunity to show his skills in the longest format.
Nicholas Pooran encountered a set-back in his career in 2015 after a car accident
The 25-year-old Pooran has only played three First-Class matches and he has a high-score of 55. In white-ball cricket, Pooran is regarded as one of the best young Caribbean batsmen. In 25 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), Pooran has 932 runs at an average of 49 with one century and seven fifties. In T20 cricket, he has 14 fifties and one hundred in 146 global matches.
Pooran is regarded as one of the best white-ball batsmen for the West Indies currently
From dominating for West Indies Under-19 in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Cricket World Cup, Pooran has a unique story. In January 2015, he met with a car accident and that left his left patellar tendon (a ligament which connects the kneecap to the shinbone) damaged and right ankle fractured. It was not until another six months that Pooran was able to walk again unassisted.
Since then, Pooran has continued to work and resurrected his career. He has played more white-ball cricket and has been recognised as an exciting batting prospect around the world. Pooran has played for or has been selected for teams such as City Kaitak, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Islamabad United, Kerala Kings, Khulna Titans, Kings XI Punjab, Multan Sultans, Mumbai Indians, Northern Warriors, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Sydney Sixers, Trinidad & Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, Trinidad & Tobago Under-19s, West Indies B, West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI, West Indies Under-19s, and Yorkshire.
Despite all the class shown by Pooran in white-ball cricket around the globe and all the praise he has received, the selection panel still believes that he has to wait for his Test opportunity. Time will tell.
