EDITOR: On the verge of hosting Crickets World Cup 2007, it seems to me that we are preparing our team to be mere spectators.
To select Mervin Dillon for a tournament considered a mini World Cup is nothing but blatant retrogression. {{more}} Mervin Dillon cannot give more than what he has already given – mediocrity. He has reached and passed his sub-standard peak. This is a man who played alongside the greats Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, had an opportunity to understudy those two highly respected bowlers and yet simply could not maintain his place as the spare head of our bowling attack.
He is not an attacking, threatening or wicket-taking bowler; if all he comes with is experience and not expertise then we are simply filling in a spot which in today’s highly competitive game is a disgrace. Is it a Joey Carew/Brian Lara influence, or is good sense prevailing?
Compare the energy, talent and enthusiasm of young Dwayne Bravo and the passion shown by Ravi Rampaul, the depth of Dwayne Smith, the promise of Banks and Edwards, the energy and commitment shown by Best to name a few. All very young, but basking in talent and potential. If we are truly rebuilding a team – and there is much sign of it – we should not undermine the very work that we’re doing. We have much talent to harness in the region and Mervin Dillon is certainly an exception.
There is Fernix Thomas, a young budding all-round cricketer from Dominica who plays for the Windward Islands. Do the selectors know he exists? Then there is Dwight Washington and Jason Bennet.
Dillon and his selectors must know that a playing team consists of 11 batsmen, fieldsmen and a number of bowlers, pace medium or slow, capable of effecting the dismissal or restricting 11 opposing
batsmen. Yet as we know it Dillon fails on every count. It would be interesting to know whether this same Dillon would find a place on a South African, Australian, England, New Zealand, Sri Lankan, Pakistan or Indian team?
Another retrogressive move is the recall of
Browne. Is this a case of the WICB being caught
with their pants down, in not doing enough to bud a wicketkeeper?
If all systems fit, my ICC Champions Trophy Tournament Team is B. Lara, R. Sarwan, C. Chanderpaul, C. Gayle, D. Bravo, Dwayne Smith, O. Banks, I. Bradshaw, R. Powel, W. Hinds, D. Sammy, M. Samuels, F. Thomas, G. Lawson, and Baugh. Allrounders have a place in cricket especially in One Day cricket.

Desmond Benjamin
St. Lucia