The new year is just around the corner and a new Test series looms for the West Indies against a strong England unit.
On Wednesday, January 23, 2019, West Indies will host England in the first of three Test matches. The exhilarating Test series will bowl off at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, at 10:00h.
After recent humbling defeats in Test series against India and Bangladesh, a few Test players may be axed by the selectors. The ongoing 2018-2019 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional 4-Day Tournament may determine who the next Test star is, or which player will cement their places in the upcoming home Test series.
With a dominant Barbadian selection panel, Jonathan Carter may be among the players in contention for Test selection. Carter has showed good signs of the improvement of his batting in the 2018-2019 Regional Super50, hitting the most runs. He finished the 50-over domestic tournament with 351 runs at a formidable average of 50. In the longer format of the game, Carter has shown transitional signs thus far in the ongoing Regional 4-Day Tournament, hitting two half-centuries in as many matches for the Barbados Pride. He has certainly captured the
Miguel Cummings
selectors’ attention, but registering centuries will be his goal for the remaining eight rounds.
Miguel Cummings was handed the axe by the Windies selectors when he was dropped in the home Test series against Bangladesh in July 2018. Cummings has returned to the domestic circuit, and the fast bowler has looked threatening thus far, capturing nine wickets in the first two rounds of the 2018-2019 Regional 4-Day competition, playing for Barbados Pride.
Jomel Warrican has proved his worth in the First-Class arena, and showed similar signs at the international level. Warrican, who has 21 wickets in his seven-match Test career, will be one of those players with intention of cementing their places in the Test squad. The left-arm spinner returned from the Test squad sent to Bangladesh and immediately caused trouble with his spectacular spin bowling. He has played in the second round and finished with 12 wickets averaging 9.69.
Solid Guyanese batsman Vishaul Singh may redeem himself in this 4-Day Tournament with heavy scores that may earn him Windies selection. Singh is one of those players who were given their opportunity at the Test level but failed miserably. With the likes of Sunil Ambris, Kyle Hope and Devon Smith seen as regional dominators, the 29-year old batsman will hope to make a comeback in the Test squad. Having a good start to the tournament, the prolific Guyanese will want to capitalise and build on his starts and register centuries.
The Berbician duo, Clinton Pestano and Romario Shepherd have been brilliant for the Guyana Jaguars, scoring invaluable runs and grabbing wickets at timely
Alzari Joseph
intervals. Shepherd, who has been around the First-class circuit for some time, will be pressing for Windies selection. Shepherd, who was involved in the Windies A tour to England, has proved his worth against potential Test players of different nations. Pestano is a lively fast bowler and a hard-hitting batsman, who has shown growth at the Regional Super50 Tournament, snaring an unforgettable hat-trick. Shepherd and Pestano have eight and seven wickets respectively, and will be aiming to continue their rich vein of form.
Opening batsman John Campbell will be seeking to score massive runs in the Regional 4-Day Tournament. In his first match of the season, he got off to a good start, scoring 97 runs in two innings. Jamaican middle-order batsman Jermaine Blackwood and Keacy Carty are also making themselves known. Blackwood has not got off to the best of starts, but the young Leeward Hurricanes batsman Carty stroked a commanding century, explaining after his player-of-the-match performance that he was pushing for Windies Test selection.
Many may ask why Imran Khan has not played Test cricket and he is among the few leg-spinners in the Caribbean. Khan may be edging closer to Test selection and started the 4-Day Tournament on the right note, capturing 11 wickets, at 20.27 apiece. Sherman Lewis, who got his opportunity to play Test cricket recently, will aim to use the 4-Day Tournament to earn a recall to the Test squad.
