The West Indies lost all three of the
matches played during its recent
T20 Series visit to Pakistan. As
we did in last month’s November Issue
for the ICC T20 World Cup, we are
now pleased to provide our Report
Card ratings on the performances of the
respective players for the Pakistan T20
Series. Our Report Card rating criteria
is, again, on a sliding scale of 1-10 with 1
as poor and 10 as excellent.
Contrary to the previous Issue’s Report
Card, however, this for the Pakistan
T20 Series has been limited to the
performances of just the players,
and does not include gradings for
any members of the Phil Simmons
led-coaching staff. Their obvious
incompetencies continue to be such a
negative commentary of its own as to
now not require any additional grading
by anyone.
Nicholas Pooran (Captain)
MP3 IB3 NO 0 Runs 108 HS 64 Avg
36.60 SR 147.94
Pooran was only marginally behind
Brandon King as the West Indies’ best
batsman. Other than King he was also
the only other batsman to surpass 100
runs from his three innings played during
the tournament. His leadership as captain
was sufficiently satisfactory as to suggest
he should now be made a far more
permanent replacement for the injured
Keiron Pollard.
Grade – 7.
Darren Bravo
MP 1 IB 1 No 1 Runs 34 HS 34*
Prevented by illness from taking any part
in the first two matches of the Series,
Darren Bravo had a most encouraging
outing in the third. His 34 not out, made
off of 27 balls and including 3 fours,
was suggestive of a return to the Bravo
of old. The one who in his first twelve
appearances in West Indies colours
looked very much like a young evolving
carbon copy of a certain BC Lara.
Grade – 6.
Shamarh Brooks
MP 3 IB 3 NO 0 Runs 64 HS 49 Avg. 21
SR 128
Brooks failed to capitalize fully on the
provided opportunities to secure for
himself one of the now readily available
top-order batting positions. He made only
one good score out of the three innings
he batted. His strike rate and willingness
to be constantly on the lookout for
available runs were, however, somewhat
encouraging.
Grade – 5
Dominic Drakes
Batting: MP 3 IB 2 NO 0 Runs 5 Avg, 2.5 SR
71.00
Bowling: Inns 3 Overs. 11.0 Mdns 0 Runs 114
Wits. 2 BB 1/35 Avg. 49 Econ. 10.99
Not the best Series Drakes would have liked to
have had as his debut appearances in West Indies
colours. He failed to contribute whatsoever in
both of his innings at bat and his returns with
the ball, just 2 wickets from 11 overs bowled at
an economy rate of 10-36, weren’t any better.
Still he’s now just a fledgling 23 year old who has
lots of time within which to improve.
Grade – 4
Shai Hope
MP 2 IB 2 NO 0 Runs 32 HS 31 Avg 16, SR 100
Although his paltry Series Avg of 16.00 might
not suggest as much, Shai Hope’s Series batting
was highly encouraging. Hope had one relatively
good knock of 32 in his just two appearances
in front of the stumps. The way he batted, at
the top of the order, during that innings was
however, highly suggestive of his continued
inclusion for at least a few more matches as
the squad’s third option opening batsman. He
should also be automatically included as the backup
wicket-keeper.
Grade – 5
Akheal Hosein
Batting: MP 2 IB 2 NO 1 Runs 3 HS 2 Avg, 3,00
SR 100,00
Bowling: MP 2 Inns 2 Overs. 8.0 Runs 35 Wits.
2 BB 1/16 Avg, 17.5 Econ 4.37
Hosein’s contributions with the bat were as
paltry as his far more impressive economy
rate with the ball. Although he only captured
two wickets, from his 9 overs bowled during
the Series, he was sufficiently tight as to have
created some telling and timely pressure on
Pakistan’s batsmen. Particularly so during the
first six power-play overs.
Grade – 6
Brandon King
MP 3 IB 3 NO 0 Runs 111 HS 67 Avg. 37.00
SR 168
By far the most outstanding of the West Indies
batsmen for the entire Series. Was the highest
run-scorer and also had the best strike rate. His
three innings included his career-best 67 in the
second T20.
Grade – 8.
Gudakesh Motie
MP 1 Inns 1 Overs. 4 Mdns 0 Runs 29 Wkts. 0
Econ 7.25
0/29 from 4 overs bowled at an economy rate
of 7.25 is not, all things considered, that bad of a
return for a 26-year-old left-arm spinner making
his T20I Series debut against as good a spin
playing opponent as Pakistan. Motie will have
been justifiably encouraged by his performance
and so too should the West Indies Selectors.
Sufficiently so as to provide him with additional
opportunities to further impress. At least while
Fabien Allen remains unavailable as a result of
his injury!
Grade – 5.
Rovman Powell
MP 3 IB 3 NO 1 Runs 33 HS 23 Avg. 16.50 SR
103.12
Drafted into the squad as a last minute
replacement for the injured Kieran Pollard,
Rovman Powell failed miserably to capitalize
in any meaningful way, shape or form, on the
glorious gold plated opportunity with which he
had been presented. His wholly disappointing
Series performances must now surely bring
an end to the possibilities for him remaining in
contention for a berth on the West Indies T20
squad.
Grade – 3
Romario Shepherd.
Batting: MP 3 IB 2 No 1 Runs 56 Hs 35*
Avg.66.00 SR 160
Bowling: MP 3 Inns 3 Overs. 10.5 Mdns. 0 Runs
125. Wickets 4 BB 2/43 Avg. 31.25 Econ 11.53
Topped the batting averages largely on account
of being not out in one of his three
innings. Had at least one useful score and
his overall belligerence at the crease was
extremely encouraging. His overs when
bowling were too expensive as evidenced
by his 11.53 economy rate.
Grade – 6.
Odean Smith
Batting: MP 3 IB 2 NO 0 Runs 36 HS 24
Avg.18 SR 162
Bowing: MP 3 Inns 2 Overs.10.0 Runs
114 Wickets 4 Avg. 28.50 Econ 11.40
Almost a carbon copy to Romario
Shepherd. Encouraging but not nearly
outstanding performances with both
bat and ball. His aggressive, hard-hitting,
batting can be developed further but his
economy rate as a bowler needs to be
much lower.
Grade – 6
Devon Thomas
MP 1 IB 2 NO o Runs 2 HS 2 Avg. 2 SR 50
Yet another who failed miserably
to capitalize on a provided golden
opportunity. With Shai Hope having
arguably secured for himself the backup
wicket-keeper’s position such further
opportunities are now highly unlikely
to reoccur in the immediate future for
Thomas. Injuries to others may now be
his only hope for such.
Grade – 2
Oshane Thomas
Batting MP 3 IB 2 NO 0 Runs 1 HS 1 Avg.
0.50 SR 25.0
Bowling: Inns 3 Ovrs 9.0 Mdns 0 Runs 98
Wits. 2 Bb 1/35 Avg. 49.0 Econ. 10.88
Thomas’s stagnation, if not regression,
from the very promising ultra-quick fast
bowler who burst onto the Caribbean
cricket scene with such aplomb not so
long ago, has now become as appalling as
it has long since been worrying. Not for
the first time, he appeared to be unfit and
overweight, his approach to the crease was
also sluggish and his control of the lengths
and lines of his deliveries can only be best
described as wayward. He desperately
now needs to be sent to a Boot Camp
under stern and strict supervision.
Grade – 2
Hayden Walsh
Batting: MP 2 IB 1 No 0 Runs 0 Avg. 0 SR
0.00
Bowling: Inns 2 Overs 6.0 Mdns 0 Runs 60
Wits 1 Avg. 60.00 Econ 10.00
The fact that Haydn Walsh only bowled 6
of the 8 overs he was allowed in the two
Series matches he played is a continuing
indication that the West Indies captains
under whom he serves are as lacking in
their confidence of him as he has obviously
become of himself. Leg-spinners such
as Walsh tend to be at their very best,
when buoyed by their self-confidence
they are teasing opposition batsmen with
variations of flight for deliveries pitched on
teasingly nagging lengths and lines. Walsh
is now obviously lacking in any such self confidence,
hence his disappointing returns
during the Series.
Grade – 3