Wednesday, June 11 2008

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TRINIDAD Tobago officials Bryan Davis and Baldath Mahabir have slammed the West Indies selectors for their confusing decisions during the current home series against Australia. Former West Indies batsman Davis said he could not understand how TT off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth can be among the top 11 players for the First Test, and is now completely off the team.

“I am really at a loss to explain how Jaggernauth is not on the team,” he said. “The selectors, in my view, have made some bad decisions that leave you frustrated, and I am not really interested in following the cricket closely. I am really confused over their decisions right now.” Mahabir, who is a former vice-president of the TT Cricket Board and current president of Clarke Road United team, hopes the selectors do not treat uncapped fast bowler Kemar Roach the same way they did with Jaggernauth.

“If they decide to play Roach in the final Test against Australia, then they must be willing to give him an extended run, and don’t judge him on one match against the World champions,” he said.

“This would be unfair, just as they were to Jaggernauth. If the selectors think that Roach is good enough to be on the team, then they might as well give him the opportunity ahead of Daren Powell who has not performed well.

“I have seen Roach bowl and he has what it takes to play at the highest level. Powell, on the other hand, is not up to Test standard, and I think that Roach would give more to the team. “I think that with Fidel Edwards bowling as good as he is now, and Jerome Taylor being our best bowler, it would be good to introduce the youngster with these guys around.”

West Indies will be looking to win the third and final Test, starting on Thursday at the Kensington Oval to square the series.

They trail 0-1 in the series, after Australia won the opening Test by 95 runs at Sabina Park in Jamaica.