Sarwan says Chemar Holder should have been in the Test Feels squad that the biggest challenge will come against spin
By Sean Devers
Coach Ronnie Sarwan
Kaieteur News – Former Guyana and West Indies captain Ramnaresh, ‘Ronnie’ Sarwan, said he was surprised that 22-year-old Chemar Barbadia Holder was not selected in a touring West Indies team to tour Bangladesh for three ODIs and Two Tests starting with the first ODI on January 20.
“I probably would have picked another fast bowler … I know we play in Bangladesh but their batsmen are better placed to play spin than speed. If we had another fast bowler who bowls 80 miles per hour, he would have tested their batters rather than playing spin.
However, three left arm spinners in Bangladesh … I doubt if they will all play together but wait and see. Like I said, I would have picked another fast bowler and asked him to be aggressive and bowling in short intervals.
I was surprised that a young Barbados Catcher … wasn’t selected and I don’t think we have enough players to be selecting horses for courses.
We have to use what we have and give them the confidence to express themselves.
The situation we face in the West Indies is that we don’t have a wealth of talent that we could ship in and ship players out for different conditions, ”said Sarwan who announced his retirement from all formats at Stella Maris Primary School in 2016.
Holder got two wickets and bowled with real speed in his only Test match against New Zealand last December.
Sarwan, who made 15 centuries including 291 masters against England and 31 fifties from 87 Tests and five tonnes and 38 fifties at 181 ODIs, spoke on Kaieteur Radio’s’ Sean Devers Sports Watch ‘Radio show last Wednesday along with’ to former Windies Test Players Reon King and Trinidadian Tony Gray.
Joshua Da Silva in the Regional Super50 at T&T.
Chemar Holder celebrates his first Test wicket in New Zealand.
Sarwan, who was born on Essequibo Island in Wakanaam, said he does not foresee too many problems for the batsmen against the Bangladeshi sailors but that he feels their biggest challenge will come against the spinners.
“What I would recommend is that they support their defense. You can also play spin of your crease very well if you believe in your defense. Usually when the ball is spinning our batters tend to find it very challenging and either try to slug their way out or buckle under the pressure so if they can support their defense it could play a big part in them staying be patient and keep out the good balls, ”advised Sarwan, who made his first Test in 2002 against Bangladesh.
The Guyanese made his first 50-over Region appearance as a 15-year-old against Trinidad and Tobago at Bourda and was considered one of the best batsmen to spin bowling.
“Once they can do that and spend a long time in the crease they should be able to score runs. Most of them have done it at the Regional level. But you get less bad balls at the higher level and in International cricket you have to spend more time in the crease, ”continued Jamaica Assistant Coach Tallawahs.
Jermaine Blackwood plays a classic cover drive.
Sarwan, who turned 28 and 228 days, the youngest West Indian to reach 5,000 runs when he made a century against England in Jamaica in 2009, feels the cautious nature of Jermaine Blackwood of Jamaica could be a good thing against spinners home team.
“I think the young Blackwoods, who like to use their feet, will be aggressive and that could be a good thing because sometimes when the ball is spinning you could bug yourself too much… so one to look for since the way he is plays could put pressure on the bowlers, ”added Sarwan.
“In those conditions Bangladesh’s left-arm spinners could bowl wicket to wicket and try to get you out of LBW and that’s something West Indies batters should look for but I’d tell them to support their defense.
While you want to spend time in the crease you also need to be positive. You don’t have to hit the ball in the air or use your feet … you can be positive playing back or playing forward because I think your body language says a lot too so if they can do they can conquer spin, ”informed Sarwan, who thinks Joshua DaSilva, who has also played one Test, is a very promising player and one for the future.
Touching on the issue of senior players choosing security first by choosing not to go to Bangladesh, which is behind only India on the sub-continent in terms of Covid-19 positive cases, Sarwan responded saying that you must respect people’s opinions.
“Actually and truly I can understand the security reasons for the impending pandemic but for the personal reasons, I don’t know what they are. But at the end of the day you have to respect people’s opinions.
Of course we would have wanted our best team to tour but that hasn’t happened. It’s also an opportunity for the other players chosen and let’s hope they grab both hands, ”concluded Sarwan.