Davis calls for WI changes ahead of Bangladesh series

BRYAN DAVIS, former TT and West Indies opening batsman, has called for a few changes to the regional team ahead of the two-Test series against Bangladesh, which will bowl off next Wednesday.

The first Test will be staged in Antigua and the second Test will take place in Jamaica, from July 12-16.

The three-Test series between hosts West Indies and Sri Lanka ended in a 1-1 draw after the Sri Lankans won the final Test in Barbados, on Tuesday, by four wickets. The First Test at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair resulted in a 226-run win for the hosts, but the second Test in St Lucia ended in a draw.

In an interview on Tuesday, Davis said, “I can’t predict the selectors because I have no confidence whatsoever in them. But I know that (chairman) Courtney Browne always makes big statements that he doesn’t stick behind. He always says, ‘we pick on performance’.

Pacer Miguel Cummins took three wickets for 39 runs in the first innings of the First Test, but none for the rest of the series. Davis asked, “So what is this performance they’re basing on? I’ll be surprised if Cummins keeps his place.”

Before the start of the series, Davis had openly expressed his displeasure with the recall of veteran opener Devon Smith. And the 36-year-old did himself no favours with an aggregate of 91 runs from six innings (including a knock of 61 in the first innings at St Lucia).

And the former WI team manager is calling for the recall of another left-handed opener, Shimron Hetmeyer.

Davis said, “Hetmeyer should definitely come in. I can’t see them just keeping the same team. They must have a few changes, at least two or three players, to freshen it up and give players exposure.

“This series would have been a wonderful opportunity to give Hetmeyer some exposure. He would have been a much better player afterwards. You bring (Smith) in and leave out a youngster like Hetmeyer, who would have been blooded so nicely in this series. I have totally no confidence in the West Indies selectors.”

Reflecting on the WI-Sri Lanka series, Davis noted, “I was disappointed, especially after the way we played in the first Test match. The second one was a little unfortunate because when (Sri Lanka captain Dinesh) Chandimal and his management objected to going on the field, I thought that they broke our rhythm by doing that, on the (third) day of that match.

“And then the Third Test was terrible batting (by the WI team). Their techniques were poor, they never batted properly. Right through the series, the batting was not strong. Our main batsmen did not perform while we had our lower order in (Shane) Dowrich and (captain Jason) Holder, and in the First Test, (Devendra) Bishoo. It was too much dependence on the lower order.”

Asked if the WI players showed their inexperience in day/night First Class cricket, Davis responded, “We played badly. It had nothing to do with day/night, not in my thoughts. It’s both teams playing under the same conditions.”

Sri Lanka were without Chandimal (suspension) and veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (injury).

“Sri Lanka (are) not as strong as they were a few years ago,” said Davis. “I thought it was a splendid Test series, but we did not play well enough in this Third Test to bring home the series.”

Dowrich, Holder and fast bowler Shannon Gabriel were the three bright spots for the WI in this Test series.

Davis mentioned, “Dowrich’s batting has come on (but) I don’t find he’s keeping all that well. I’m not holding that against him. He now seems a more mature batsman and I believe that he’ll develop from here, because he’s now shown definite improvement.

“I can say the same thing about Holder,” he continued. “He has come on, in his own confidence, and doing well. Gabriel did very well. I think that’s a very good sign for the next year or two, because he’s 30 years old now. It’s a pity that he wasn’t this good five years ago, but he did very well. You can’t blame him.”