OVER the years Jamaican gamers have struggled to interrupt by within the West Indies Take a look at crew, primarily as a consequence of their efficiency. Nevertheless, that would change sooner or later as new Head Coach Daren Sammy says he’s offered a framework to franchises just like the Jamaica Scorpions, to higher perceive his expectations.
Changing Jamaica’s Andre Coley, former Windies Captain Sammy, who has coached the One-Day Worldwide (ODI) and T20 Worldwide groups since Might 2023, will assume his position because the red-ball coach subsequent month, along with his first Take a look at collection set for July throughout Australia’s tour of the Caribbean.
Jamaican gamers might be seeking to make a return to the Take a look at set-up in Sammy’s first squad as none have been included within the squad for the final three collection in opposition to South Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan, between final August and January of this yr.
Kirk McKenzie, who made his debut in July 2023 in opposition to India, was dropped in August following the Windies’ tour of England the place they have been swept 3-0. Regardless of scoring a complete of 170 runs in his first six innings, together with a half-century in opposition to Australia in January 2024, the 24-year-old batsman might solely muster 33 runs in six innings in opposition to England final summer season.
McKenzie is only one of 4 Jamaicans to make the Take a look at crew within the final seven years. Jermaine Blackwood, with 56 caps, final performed in 2023; and Nkrumah Bonner, with 15 caps, was dropped in 2022; whereas John Campbell with 22 caps hasn’t performed since 2022, largely as a consequence of his anti-doping ban.
When requested by the Jamaica Observer if any Jamaican participant can be chosen for his upcoming squad, Sammy hinted that Campbell might be amongst the front-runners as a consequence of his early performances within the four-day West Indies Championship.
“I’ve seen the primary half of the event,” Sammy mentioned. “I watched John Campbell, out of Jamaica, look very well, look actually good [on] opening. From my head, he’s scored about 300 runs at a mean of 70 or so — and he’s one, earlier than the ban, that was actually seeking to take his sport to a different degree.”
Nevertheless, whereas making clear that solely the very best gamers might be chosen, no matter nationality, Sammy desires gamers from the Scorpions and different franchises to show their skills within the four-day event and show they’ll adapt to his meant taking part in type for the Take a look at crew.
“We may have clear roles and be capable to share our imaginative and prescient in how we need to play Take a look at cricket and filter it all the way down to the regional franchises as to what we count on from openers, what we’re on the lookout for from center order batsmen, and what we would like from the bowlers. It’s [working] with the thought of constructing a champion 11 — primarily based on roles that’s required,” he mentioned.
“We’ve collected the info from the highest 4 groups, each regional and worldwide, so each franchise now understands and has the conversations with the completely different gamers to say, ‘In the event you’re aspiring to play for the West Indies and also you’re an opener, that is what they’re on the lookout for.’ If Kraigg Brathwaite is out of the crew — by harm or no matter — the following individual in line already has an thought of what’s required as a result of they’ve been fulfilling it within the four-day competitors.”
The subsequent Windies Take a look at squad will possible be revealed on the finish of Might or early June, forward of their three-match collection in opposition to the Aussies beginning on June 25. The third Take a look at, from July 12 to 16, might be performed at Sabina Park in Kingston.
West Indies all-format Head Coach Daren Sammy.
Jamaica and West Indies opener John Campbell (Picture: CWI Media)
Jamaica Scorpions batter Kirk McKenzie on his technique to 90 off 92 balls in opposition to West Indies Academy throughout their Regional Super50 match at Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Floor in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Saturday. (Picture: CWI Media)
