West Indies’ Marlon Samuels rejects World Cup recall as Devendra Bishoo will replace Dwayne Bravo
West Indian batsman, Marlon Samuels has rejected an offer by their board to represent his team as a replacement for Dwayne Bravo, in the ICC World Cup 2011 being played in the Subcontinent. As a result, Devendra Bishoo will be the replacement
player for the injured Bravo.
The selection committee contacted Samuels, but he turned down the proposal as he is not yet ready for a return to international arena. The 30-year-old cricketer said, “First of all, I want to say thanks to the regional selectors for sitting
down and thinking about selecting me for the World Cup. I am honoured to get such a phone call.”
Samuels, who made his return after suffering two year ban as he passed information to book makers, made this decision, as he thinks that he is not yet fully fit to handle international pressure.
None the less, Bishoo has been approved by the ICC’s Event Technical Committee as a substitute for Bravo.
Bravo, who is the Caribbean side’s ace all-rounder, injured his left knee while playing against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 and will play no further part in the West Indies’ World Cup campaign. He will be out for at least four to five weeks.
The 25-year-old Bishoo is an uncapped player for the Caribbean team. Though, he has played 21 first class games and also has been part of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 A team. He is a spin bowler and will be looking forward to inspire his team to World
Cup glory that has eluded them since 1979.
The World Cup is being hosted by three South-Asian countries namely http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. The pitches in these countries support spin bowling, so the young bowler will be looking to capitalise on this opportunity.
The Coach of the Caribbean cricket team, Ottis Gibson, postulates that loosing the all-rounder may be a blessing in disguise. Most teams in the World Cup are relying on spin bowling whereas the West Indies team originally were focusing on
pace attack.
As the all-rounder Bravo is out of the picture, the team will have to apply an alternative strategy which will involve using more spin. Ottis, before the match against Netherland, said, “With him missing, it gives us an opportunity to perhaps
re-think whether we need another batsman at six and perhaps an extra bowler. Hopefully, the next team will reflect our new thinking.”
The West Indies applied a new strategy against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Netherlands-c753 that included the all-rounder Kieron Pollard to be promoted up in the batting order and the addition of an extra spinner, Nikita Miller, in their team. Miller performed well against
the minnows, though he did not pick any wickets, he was economical.
The Caribbean side will play against co-hosts’ http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391 4 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. It is a crucial match for both teams, as the winner of the match will improve their chances of making it to the
quarter-finals.
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