Chief selector, Desmond Haynes, has disclosed that West Indies’ forward planning for the 2027 ICC World Cup led to the omission of veteran left-hander Darren Bravo from the upcoming three-match series against England next month.
Despite being the leading scorer in the recently concluded Super50 Cup in Trinidad, where he amassed 416 runs at an average of 83 while captaining the Red Force to their 14th domestic 50-over title, the 34-year-old Bravo was not included in the 15-man squad for the series.
Haynes explained the decision during a virtual media conference, stating, “Darren has proven not only this year but last year in the Super50 tournament, to be somebody who performs well at this level. But we have invested in players like Alick Athanaze and Keacy Carty, and we just figured that in selecting this team, we also had to take into consideration that the World Cup 2027 is something that we’ve got in mind.”
Giving opportunities to younger talents
He emphasized the selectors’ belief in giving opportunities to younger talents and their desire to prepare for future international events. Bravo, who played his last of 122 ODIs 22 months ago, has an ODI batting average of 30 with four centuries.
Despite Bravo’s omission, selectors chose to recall 32-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich, who played his only ODI more than four and a half years ago and hasn’t featured for West Indies since he left the Test tour of New Zealand for “personal reasons” three years ago.
Haynes defended Dowrich’s selection by highlighting his strong Test credentials and good form in the Super50 Cup. “Dowrich has proven to be [a good] player, batting in the middle, playing spin very well. He’s done well. Even though he hasn’t played a lot of one-day games, he’s done very well at Test level,” said Haynes.
The inclusion of 33-year-old Kjorn Ottley
Haynes also justified the inclusion of 33-year-old Kjorn Ottley, who played his only two ODIs nearly three years ago. Ottley was brought in to fill a specific role at the top of the order due to an injury to Justin Greaves. Haynes stressed the importance of having players who can adapt to different roles, especially in the face of injuries and global competitions.
He also mentioned the investment in young players and the need for continuity in player development rather than adopting a short-term approach.
This squad selection reflects West Indies’ strategic approach to player development and their commitment to planning for future international competitions, including the 2027 ICC World Cup.
