Time to shuffle the deck

Luke Dunning looks at the many West Indian permutations on the eve of the third test.

On the eve of the third test West Indies have some serious decisions to make.

In the second test both Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph looked as if they were carrying potential injuries in addition to appearing physically drained after 181 overs in the field. In light of this fact the demands to play Rahkeem Cornwall have now reached a crescendo.

Cornwall should have a massive impact at Old Trafford, a venue that saw Roston Chase deliver a 5 wicket haul in England’s first innings as well as seeing Dom Bess show some threat across the test match.

By playing another spinner and a front-line one it would provide some needed rest bite for the likes of Kemar Roach and Jason Holder who surely have to play due to the series being evenly poised.

As aforementioned both Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph could well miss the series decider which may open the door for a change in the seam department. Jason Holder, Roger Harper and Phil Simmons certainly have an important decision to make with two alternative seamers in the squad that excite for different reasons.

Chemar Holder is hot off the back of a wonderful campaign in the West Indian 4-day championship where he took 36 wickets at 18.91 across 16 innings for Barbados.

Both Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph were unable to get a full go in the domestic competition for conflicting reasons which may have resulted in the niggles they’ve picked up. In addition common sense would say bowling the volume of overs that they have over the short period of time with little conditioning/time to recover has possibly exacerbated pre-existing concerns.

Whilst there is no doubt that Chemar Holder would be the obvious exciting option the West Indies may also look to a more experienced campaigner in Raymon Reifer.

This selection is probably the most relevant option to the passing fan who would have seen Reifer get success in the first Holder vs Brathwaite, intra-squad game, with a 5fer in the first innings of the first game. Both of these games were also at Old Trafford which could also help Reifer’s case.

Furthermore, Reifer’s form in the West Indian First class competition should also be given some context. Overall this season, he has 16 wickets at 30.06 and scored 230 runs at 25. The season before he averaged 30 with the bat and took 26 wickets at 16.

Despite playing for Guyana where wickets have been dominated by the left-arm spin of Veerasammy Permaul (who took 50 wickets) Reifer contributed 9 wickets at 20 at Providence this season.

With Old Trafford looking dry despite the rainfall and being historically spin friendly, Reifer’s know how in dry and spin friendly conditions as a seamer could well make him a favourable option. 

Whilst the West Indian bowling is easy to talk about, the batting isn’t so easy.

Many have called for both John Campbell and Shai Hope to be dropped. As I’ve said in my previous article, if one of them was to be dropped my preference would be to see Jason Holder become the West Indies’ answer to Ben Stokes and bat in the top 6. 

If a recognised batsman comes in, it has to be Nkrumah Bonner. Bonner has had a wonderful First Class season in the West Indies where he averaged 58.11. His inclusion would also allow the West Indies to capitalise on a batting partnership with Jermaine Blackwood which saw them both average over fifty in domestic cricket.

If Bonner plays, Jermaine Blackwood would have to bat in the top order which is a move he may have to make anyway if there are changes made to the West Indies line up. 

Many have called for Joshua Da Silva or Sheyne Moseley, who are in the reserve squad, but Bonner is the next in line as he is already in the squad.

Both Moseley and Da Silva have time ahead of them and will surely make their debuts for the West Indies in the future. Should John Campbell be picked and fail again then the fall out of this tour may mean a replacement is required which would put Moseley, an opener by trade, in business as well as Da Silva who showed strengths in the role within the warm up games despite being a makeshift option in the role. 

Yet if West Indies are to win they have to go for 20 wickets as quick as they can by sharing the workload and relying on the likes of Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks and Roston Chase to take responsibility and record a big score.

However with thatsaid, I still believe the best bet is to make Jason Holder bat at 6 as given Hope’s poor form there would be no weakening of the side. If the West Indies then want to force a result it would make sense to replace Hope with a bowler.

My preferred West Indies line-up for the final test:

Brathwaite

Campbell

Blackwood

Brooks

Chase

J. Holder*

Dowrich+

Reifer

Cornwall

Roach

C. Holder

I have to make it clear the only player I am dropping here is Shai Hope due to his lean form. Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph miss out for fitness reasons allowing Raymon Reifer and Chemar Holder to help them heal and recover appropriately.

For Jimbo it is third time lucky as he could be the golden ticket for a West Indies team that must still look to close out the series with a win.

Article edited by Machel St Patrick Hewitt

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