Davis: Few positives from WI tour of England

There were only a few positives from the West Indies cricket team’s two-month long tour of England, which saw the visitors beaten 2-1 in the three-Test series, 4-0 in the five-match One-Day International series, but victorious in the lone T20 International.

This according to ex-national and West Indies opening batsman Bryan Davis.

In an interview on Friday, Davis stated, “if we lose a series that bad I don’t see positives. Evin Lewis (was) outstanding. I (mentioned) why they don’t pick him for Test cricket. He could bat and he’s developing nicely.

“And it looks like (WI coach) Stuart Law (is) probably assisting him now. He was good even before he went on the tour.”

Davis continued, “Alzarri Joseph was good before the tour. He should be encouraged all the time. He should be playing all the time. Once a good coach have him going, he should grow.”

The ex-national opener was also disappointed with the returns of the veteran trio Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Jerome Taylor. “Samuels should be (on the team) at all. I wouldn’t pick. I don’t see any reason for Gayle there either. Taylor’s cricket has gone real bad.”

Looking ahead to the forthcoming two-Test series away to Zimbabwe, Davis was against the WI selectors’ decision to retain the same 15-man team who featured in the Test matches against England.

“I think they could have given one or two other people a chance,” he said. “I feel like Miguel Cummins shouldn’t be there. They could have tried somebody like (Ronsford) Beaton.”

The WI tour of Zimbabwe will coincide with the Windies A team series against Sri Lanka, which will comprise of three “Tests” and three One-Day matches – all in Jamaica.

However, Davis noted, “there must have been some changes along the line somewhere. Kyle Hope was a total failure. What you’re trying to tell me that there’s no batsmen at all in the Caribbean? If I was a selector I would look at the whole position and I would surely see changes to the team.”

About WI captain Jason Holder, Davis stressed, “Holder is going to continue to be a failure as a captain, but they have no problem with taking him all the time.

“You had a losing team and you make no changes for the next (series)? I saw the One Day matches, he was terrible as a captain.