By Rajiv Bisnauth

GUYANESE-born cricket commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira has maintained that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) selection panel has named the wrong squad for the first four games of the ongoing Ballr tri-series involving Australia and South Africa.Perreira is of the view that some changes to the squad must be made in order for West Indies to be more competitive for the remainder of the tri-series.

“The wrong squad was selected, and I am not surprised by our performance against Australia last Sunday. Seriously there needs to be some changes to the squad,” Perreira told Guyana Chronicle Sport yesterday in an exclusive interview.
Further the veteran commentator questioned whether West Indies chief selector Clive Lloyd has lost his focus on the youth policy strategy he implemented last year prior to the home series against Australia.
Prior to that series, Lloyd said he wanted his young players to gain “exposure” and be “tested” against Australia.
“Our aim is to continue to play our young players to give them exposure, and you can’t get better exposure than playing against one of the best teams in the world,” Lloyd had said. “They will be tested and that is what it’s all about.”
Lloyd’s wish was granted. His young players were certainly exposed and tested. Unfortunately, most of his batsmen were found to be wanting against a strong Australian bowling line-up that turned the series into a rout.
Based on that youth policy strategy, Perreira suggested that experienced opener Kraigg Brathwaite be included in the tri-series squad, since it is important to get a solid start.
He also recommended that Marlon Richards, who is a genuine swing bowler, Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope and Royston Chase, all be given an opportunity in keeping with Lloyd’s youth policy.
Perreira is of the view that batsman Marlon Samuels must produce or be replaced if he continues to fail while skipper Jason Holder should take much more responsibility with the bat.
It is no secret that West Indies cricket has fallen on hard times, and the latest result against Australia in the ongoing tri-series was just the latest reminder of how far Caribbean cricket has fallen from the halcyon days when they were the most feared team in the world.
By the conclusion of the tri-series, it should be clear whether Lloyd’s strategy on youth is starting to pay dividends, or whether it will be back to the drawing board.