Murray asks for another chance

Junior Murray has begged the Windward Island selectors for one more year of First Class cricket and they have agreed, leaving Lynden James, the man tipped to replace him, heartbroken.

Chairman of selectors Julian Jack confirmed to SEARCHLIGHT that prior to the selection of the 2007 team Murray asked them to let him “go out in style”.

According to Jack, Murray said that cricket is the only sport that he played to any level of proficiency and would be grateful for a proper farewell.{{more}}

Jack said that he stood by the selectors’ decision.

Meanwhile the clear heir apparent that many in cricketing circles believe should have been sitting on the throne a couple years ago is left languishing in the reserves as Murray gets his swan song.

“I am really disappointed. I was really looking forward to play”, a disappointed Lynden James said. “I kept well in the two matches, and he (Murray) did not even keep.”

He also took issue with the selectors’ decision to include Murray ahead of him, granted the age difference.

James, 21, represented the Windwards nine times, and was good enough to play as a batsman twice even with Murray on the team.

James said he was eagerly looking forward to cementing his place in the Windwards team, eyeing a West Indies call up, as he believes the current wicket keeping spot is still up for grabs.

Despite this, he plans to grab any opportunity presented to him “with both hands”.

It is not clear whether Murray was selected as a wicket keeper or as a batsman, as he did not keep wicket during the just concluded windward tournament. Instead teenaged Andre Fletcher did so.

Murray, who turns 39 in January, has been representing the Windwards at the senior level as a wicket keeper batsman for the past 18 years, making valuable contributions.

He has played 33 tests and 55 One Day Internationals for the West Indies and over 100 first class matches for the Windwards.

The Windwards tournament held in Grenada earlier this month was eventually abandoned due to rain, forcing selectors to chose players on past performance.

“We did not see much of the others. It’s the best we could have done in the circumstances, without a proper cricket environment,” Jack admitted.

Defending the inclusion middle order batsman Liam Sebastian, who did not play in this year’s tournament, Jack said that he was the lone player of three on cricket scholarships that responded indicating his availability.

Jack said that the other two, Vincentian Rommel Currency and St Lucian Craig Emmanuel “were not considered”.

Devon Smith was named Vice Captain to Lewis, with Fletcher, Heron Campbell and Dennis George, completing the six selected from Grenada. Deighton Butler, Kenroy Peters, Hyron Shallow and Miles Bascombe make up the Vincentian representatives.

Darren Sammy is the lone St Lucian making the 14 while Jean Paul and Ronald Etienne join Sebastian as the Dominicans selected.

The Windwards play their first match against Guyana in Grenada from January 4 to 7.