Sir Andy Roberts blasts selection of Reifer, Brathwaite

Windies July Test tour to England…

–calls for Pooran’s Test entry

Former West Indies fast-bowling great Sir Andy Roberts has questioned the selection of some of the players who are currently in England to play the three-match Test series, and has opined that Nicholas Pooran should be playing red ball cricket, which he believes would help the Trinidadian in the long run.

During his extended comment on the latest Mason and Guests Cricket Show, Roberts chuckled when host Andrew Mason asked about Raymon Reifer’s selection.”That’s one of the names people are talking about. Why they chose Raymon Reifer? Is it to bowl steadily from one end, or they think (because) he is a left-armer he will make a difference?

What is Raymon’s strength? Does it depend a lot on swing or containment? These are some of the things we need to look at,” Roberts explained.Roberts, who played 47 Test matches for the West Indies and took 202 wickets, was surprised that Oshane Thomas was not selected in the final 14-man squad. “He should be there! He has what the others want, and that is pace,”

he said.In terms of Kraigg Brathwaite being selected, Roberts also had question marks on this selection. “Based upon his past record or the last outing that he had in the professional set-up, why are you taking him? His past record does not show much,” Roberts opined.While Roberts declared it would be great if West Indies pulled off a victory, he believes the team would have to work hard for that.This native of Antigua and Barbuda is hoping that the West Indies can find one or two players who would become household names after this tour. He believes that the key for fast bowlers is to bowl within themselves, and don’t try to do too much, the performance would be

creditable.”Maybe had it not been for the coronavirus, we would have not seen most of those names,” he opined.Now 69 years old, Sir Andy Roberts noted that West Indies touring England during this period is a chance nobody else is willing to take.Windies Test Squad is comprised of: Jason Holder (Captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Chemar Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer and Kemar Roach.Reserve players are: Sunil Ambris, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Harding, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Shayne Moseley, Anderson Phillip, Oshane Thomas and Jomel Warrican. (Brandon Corlette)