Pooran’s time is clearly now

THE EDITOR: Nicholas Pooran, an amazingly talented and well taught young batsman, is unmistakable ready for more than just T20 and ODI cricket for the West Indies. It is way past time for him to be a standout for the WI Test team as well.

How can the regional selectors justify Pooran’s continued omission from the team and include Shamarh Brooks? To choose between Brooks and Pooran is to choose between a low-end car and a luxury vehicle like an Aston Martin. So in blanking Pooran and choosing Brooks the selectors have said no to the Aston Martin and chose the low-end vehicle of Brooks.

I have nothing against Brooks. I am just calling a spade a spade. What is most astounding about the continued ignoring of Pooran by the selectors is the woeful performances of the WI top five batters in comparison to Pooran’s great exploits in the middle.

Not a single one of them averages above 40 in Test cricket. Pooran in stark contrast averaged over 50 against the world’s best bowlers at the recent ODI World Cup in England.

Pooran has shown a very broad bat in the face of many a searching bowling examination. He is also a very explosive batter who puts together many meaningful partnerships to hold the innings together. This is just what the doctor has ordered for the failing batting line-up of the WI Test team.

There is certainly nobody on the team’s woeful batting list who can keep Pooran out of the starting 11 in a fair and reasonable selection process.

Under the previous Cricket West Indies (CWI) regime it was said that WI cricketers do not have to play in the regional tournament to be selected for the Test squad. It is time for the incumbents at the CWI to see the logic of this approach and include Pooran to spare our blushes against the rampant Indian team.

FITZROY OTHELLO

via e-mail