Shimron Hetmyer gets a wake-up call

– fans have their say on Shimron Hetmyer’s non-selection to any WI team

By Brandon Corlette

The non-selection of Shimron Hetmyer to any of the West Indies teams opposing the visiting Sri Lankans in these home series has impacted the Guyanese people like the eruption of a volcano.
The left-handed batting maestro did not find a place in any of the squads announced for the Sri Lanka tour, and some of his adoring fans are bitterly disappointed at this decision taken by the Cricket West Indies selection panel. Some individuals are, however, looking at the bigger picture and calling Hetmyer’s non-selection a wake-up call.

This publication spoke with some cricket fans, and recorded their opinions about Hetmyer’s non-selection.
Kevon Jawahir: “I think it’s an eye-opener for Shimron. I think he needs to get himself in order, and keep his body fit.”
Devon Ramnauth: “Disappointed! CWI should guide him, instead of drop him. (He’s) pure talent, but he needs to mature.”
Colin Bynoe Jr: “For some players, getting dropped is a cricketing disaster. They push themselves to get back in the team, and end up trying so hard (that) their performance and confidence drops even further. But it doesn’t have to be like that. When you deal with it in the right way, getting dropped can end up making you a better player.
“I think it’s a wake-up call for him as a young guy. In my opinion, he needs to be more consistent and adopt a more professional approach towards his game. With him not being considered for selection, he should use this period to reflect on the successes he had thus far in his international career, and also strive to improve on those successes.
“At this point (in time), he should try and control the things he can that relate to his game. What’s in his control at the moment is the hard work that he can put in, working more on his fitness and his ability to overcome this moment in his career mentally, and also to seek assistance from current and past greats in the game. I’m sure he will come back stronger.”
Nicholas Beharry: “I think he supposed to play in front Bravo (chiny lara)!”
Joshua Ferrell: “It’s really disappointing to not see Hetty in the Test squad. The reason stated behind his axing is absolutely ridiculous. It was mentioned that he wasn’t fit, he went ahead and got fit. He made himself available for Regional cricket as well, playing in the Best vs Best game. So, to tell me that he wasn’t selected due to not playing 4-day cricket is somewhat ridiculous.
“Darren Bravo is not in any form to be recalled to the Test team. I think (that in) his last 7-8 Test matches, there hasn’t been a score over 25, so that speaks volumes. John Campbell needs to be axed from the team as an opener also.
“If the regional games are what players are selected on, then the system needs to change, because Permaul still can’t make the Test team, being the leading wicket-taker year after year; likewise with Leon Johnson with the bat. So, there’s a lot of contradiction here. Shai Hope and Hetty have to be included in the Test team.”
Joel Amsterdam: “Personally, I like Shimron Hetmyer, but when you look at the current makeup of the squad, it’s difficult for him to make the team. If you look at his stats in Test cricket, it’s no good. He averages about 26 in Tests, the same as Shai Hope.
“He (Hetmyer) should have been in the white ball team. I guess in the selectors’ minds it was a toss-up between him and Bravo, and they went with Bravo because he has a superior record to Hetmyer’s. Bravo averages about 36 in Tests, so he’s the better option at this time.”