ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Batsman Nkrumah Bonner has been assured he has not been discarded despite being dropped for the Test tour of South Africa. In contrast, veteran left-hander Darren Bravo has been told he is still in contention even though he, too, has been ignored.
The 34-year-old Bonner has struggled for form in recent months, averaging ten from his last five Tests. In contrast, Bravo, also 34 – who has not featured in the most extended format in just over two years – scored a hundred in each inning of the last round of matches in the Regional First Class Championship.
Speaking to media on Thursday, chief selector, the Most Honourable Desmond Haynes, said both players remained on the selection radar.
“Bonner struggled a little bit in the last couple of Test matches that he has played, and we believe we would like to see Bonner come back and play some more first-class games here in the Caribbean and then get ready for India who is coming in June,” Haynes said.
“When someone has left out of the side, the first impression that comes to one’s mind is that you’re done with somebody.
“But I had a conversation – not only myself but [fellow selector] Roland (Butcher) – we had a conversation with Bonner, and we explained to him the reason why he’s not been selected to go to South Africa.”
Bonner was one of the Caribbean side’s leading batsmen in 2021, hitting his maiden Test hundred along with three fifties but tailed off last year despite a hundred against England.
Bravo, meanwhile, has also failed to recapture his best form since returning to international cricket following a controversial 2-½ year break and was dropped in 2020 after averaging 13 from seven Tests.
However, he struck hundreds against Leeward Islands Hurricanes last week at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium and currently averages 87 for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force following the first two rounds of the first-class championship.
“I called Bravo to congratulate him on the two hundred he scored,” Haynes said.
“We in the Caribbean don’t have the luxury of talking about age not being on someone’s side. If someone is doing well in our competitions, I think his name must be selected.
“I think that Bravo has proven that he can play cricket at the highest level, and it’s just a matter of if we can get the guys if they’re committed and want to play, but Bravo is a class act.
“He has done well at the Test level. He had a period where he just lost his form and so forth, but we know that Bravo is good enough to make runs at this level, and we will continue to monitor Bravo’s progress as we go along in this four-day competition.”
Instead of Bravo or Bonner, selectors opted for the uncapped 24-year-old Dominican Alick Athanze, one of the leading batsmen in the regional championship opening two rounds.
And Haynes said selectors had been tracking the progress of the left-hander for some time and were pleased with his progress.
“This young man was on our radar for quite some time … and we like how this young man has adapted to the longer version of the game,” said the legendary former West Indies opener.
“We think he has a lot of ability … he’s a guy in the form at the moment. He just got a hundred, and we believe this is the right time to allow him to see what he can do at the highest level.
“We think he has a lot of talent and can go a long way. We had to take those chances with Tage Chanderpaul when he first saw him.
“We as selectors don’t always get it right, but we tend to trust our cricket judgment, and whatever we do, we always do it in the best interest of West Indies cricket.”
West Indies are scheduled to arrive in South Africa on Friday for the two-Test tour beginning February 28.
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