0/140-31 overs and 13. Those were Roston Chase’s returns with ball and bat at the conclusion of the respective Australian and West Indies’ first innings in the opening match of the two Tests Series being played Down Under between the two teams. Returns which suggest that Chase’s controversial inclusion in the West Indies squad for the Series may have been yet another grievous error on the part of the Desmond Haynes-led West Indies
Selection Panel.
Since his appointment to the Head Selector role late last year as Roger Harper’s replacement Haynes’ choices for West Indies squads have become known for their almost inevitable inclusion of at least one, oftentimes two or three, choices that have caused much consternation, discussion and debate among Caribbean cricket’s fans and followers. So much so that “Dubious Dessie” is now fast becoming a most appropriate description for
the great former West Indies opening batsman in his recently appointed role.
Guyanese fans were particularly aggrieved at Chase’s inclusion ahead of their compatriot Gudakesh Motie
who had made his Test debut in the preceding Series against Bangladesh. Although he didn’t take a wicket
in his debut Test Motie was arguably sufficiently economical with figures of 0/31-16 overs to have
arguably retained his place on the team and a seat on the flight to Australia. Moreover, Motie had finally
earned his Test debut after repeated outstanding performances in the annual Caribbean Regional Four
Day Championships. His First-Class record entering his debut Test was 117 wickets captured at an average of
21.52 in 35 matches played. Not bad at all for a left-arm off-spinner!
There are many within the region who hold the view that West Indies cricket would be much better served
by having Haynes fulfil the role of Head Coach than by his current occupancy of the Chief Selector’s Chair.
Some would even go as far as to suggest that his appointment as Selection Chair had been an astute political move on the part of Cricket West Indies President Ricky Skerritt to protect Phil Simmons’ Head Coach tenure
following the clamour of calls for the latter’s removal after the West Indies’ disastrous performance at the 2021World Cup. As it turned out such protection as provided was short-lived as the World Cup errors of 2021 were duly repeated this year resulting in the West Indies’ failure to advance beyond the qualification round and ultimately leading to Simmons’ voluntary resignation.
Haynes’ own role in the 2022 World Cup disaster was that of his Panel’s choice of
the three very controversial inclusions of Yanick Cariah, Sheldon Cottrell and Raymon
Reifer at the expense of Romario Shepherd, Fabian Allen and Haydn Walsh. The highly
questionable nature of the Haynes-led Panel’s choices was eventually underlined by the
fact that none of their preferences played any actual matches. Their roles were relegated to
those of towel carriers and bench warmers.
Having so far failed to justify his selection in the Aussie first Test, Chase will be hoping
for much-improved fortunes for the remainder of the current match. He will also likely
have an extended opportunity for redemption in the Adelaide second Test. While he
goes about attempting to do so there will be no one hoping more for his success than the
West Indies Head Selector, “Dubious Dessie” Haynes!