ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies officially confirmed that the recently-appointed Selection System Task Force has commenced its review.
The Task Force aims to complete this review within three months and comprises six members. CWI Vice-President Dr. Kishore Shallow will chair the committee, with deputy chair being CWI Director Enoch Lewis. Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams third CWI-affiliated member on the task force.
The three independent members are former West Indies captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan, former West Indies and Barbados opener, Philo Wallace and Miles Bascombe, the former Windwards Islands, Combined Campuses batsman who represented West Indies in Twenty20 cricket.
Re-evaluating the system of team selection was one of the ten (10) points of the “Cricket First Plan” put forward by President Ricky Skerritt and Vice President Dr. Kishore Shallow in the recent CWI election campaign.
As the brainchild of the idea, Chairman Dr. Shallow said, “Other international bodies have advanced their selection process to be in alignment with the modernization of the game. Cricket has changed tremendously over the last decade, with the introduction of the T20 format, which has increased the importance of batting strike rate for results.There is also an increase of regional and international fixtures, a reality that should be considered in the advanced environment of the game, and which requires a selection system that has comprehensive coverage.”
CWI Director Enoch Lewis added, “I am pleased to be part of this committee and will do my part to ensure that the team comes up with a well researched and comprehensive policy, which will redound to the benefit of WI cricket in the short, medium and long term.
“I will bring my vast experience as a cricketer, cricket administrator and as a banker to bear in the execution of this most important assignment.”
The Task Force will be working over a three-month period to the following objectives:
(a) To conduct a rigorous analysis into the current selection system of all West Indies teams
(b) To examine best practice amongst our international counterparts
(c) To construct recommendations of a selection system that is best suited to West Indies cricket and our environment
(d) To collate the findings and prepare a final report to be submitted to the CWI Board of Directors
The Scope of Work includes:
1. Conduct a thorough review of the selection system of Cricket West Indies for all teams, including a SWOT analysis
2. Conduct research and examine the selection systems of international counterparts
3. Review the entire selection process, including, but not limited to actual selections, board approvals, and internal and external communications
4. Engage in a consultation process with stakeholders at the national and regional levels to elicit a broad view on the selection system
This consultation process will engage a broad cross section of interest groups including but not limited to: current and past selectors, current and past captains, current and past players, and cricket administrators.
Following the first face-to-face meeting held at Accra hotel, Barbados on May 27, 2019, the respective Independent members commented on their appointments.
Miles Bascombe: “In my estimation, we are off to a great start, with the objectives and fundamentals for our task established. This is exciting times for West Indies cricket, and I am humbled to be part of this defining phase of our cricket history.”
Philo Wallace: “It’s indeed an honour to be part of CWI’s Task Force to re-evaluate the Selection System and be given an opportunity to contribute to CWI in a positive and meaningful way and to help move West Indies Cricket forward. To work with the other members of the CWI Task Force as well speak volumes to where CWI wants to move cricket in the region.”
Ramnaresh Sarwan: “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve West Indies cricket again on this task force to help restructure the West Indies selection policy that has been under a lot of scrutiny over the past couple of years. So now that we have the ability to review everything, I’m looking forward to aiding in finding a common ground solution in the best interest of West Indies Cricket between players and administrators.”
The Task Force is expected to produce a final document with recommendations on selection systems by September 2019.
-CWI
