Cricket News

Chris Gayle’s decision to resign as West Indies captain has reiterated the discontent and stresses of selection.

Gayle publicly voiced his strife with the West Indian Cricket Board’s approach to the one-day series against Australia in addition to his lack of control behind the scenes.

Similarly, Michael Vaughan pointed the finger at Geoff Miller & Co over the late inclusion of unknown seamer Darren Pattinson for England’s 10-wicket Headingley thrashing, going as far as saying the Nottinghamshire paceman had affected the unity of the team.

Since then, England have been criticised for being a closed shop. It is an entirely different situation to the sunnier climates of the Caribbean with Gayle rightly embarrassed by the experimental nature of the Australia 5-0 series whitewash.

Previously in Test cricket, the six batsman, wicket-keeper, three-seamers and a spinner format was nailed in stone. Nowadays, the chopping and changing illustrates how England and the West Indies are being driven without a route to victory.

England may well lose their second successive major home series and with the Australians over next year, a hat-trick of defeats would put England back to square one.

Consistency in selection is undoubtedly the chief priority, but only to the benefit of the side. Whereas England are sticking to tradition and keeping with the tried and trusted (whatever the format), Allen Stanford’s cash windfall has taken the West Indian eye clearly off the red-ball.