Back the Hodges, bring back the Hopes

There were lots of things that didn't help the #WestIndies in the #Test series it just lost. Two of them were not getting to play two practice games before the 1st match and not getting to play one practice match in between. What? Is this some kind of joke?

Well no, but yes, we do understand that visiting teams hardly play warm-up matches these days, let alone playing more than one. But another significant reason definitely cannot be termed as a joke by anyone.

That is, to play three Tests in 3 weeks. First Test started on Wednesday, second Test began Thursday and third, on Friday. So, after Day 5 of the 1st game, there were only 3 days off and after the fifth day of the 2nd match, there were 3 again. It's another matter that the first two Tests did not see a fifth day.

But this kind of scheduling is taxing on the away side, even if it's in a country like #England where you can go from here to there by buses. #WindiesCricket needed to do something about this kind of an itinerary. It didn't. Anyway, we won't get too deep into this because the talk will not end then! Besides, it's great that they have actually played 3 Tests in a series, so, wouldn't want to shorten that in any way.

What we will for sure point out, is on the cricketing facts and figures. In particular, the batting of the #MenInMaroon. No score of 150 in the 1st Test. A score of under 150 again in the 2nd Test. Finally, a score of 175 but less than 200, in the 3rd Test. Way off this performance, from even par!

But barring #KirkMcKenzie, the rest of the recognized batting is good. Yes, it is good. Let's not mention #KraiggBrathwaite and #JasonHolder and #JoshuaDaSilva now. Sticking to the newer lot, we say that it is good.

#MikyleLouis, #AlickAthanaze and #KavemHodge are good batters. Hodge is the best batter at the moment and we say so for a reason. Athanaze is perhaps the most gifted. But we repeat, all three are fine batters.

The only reason why neither Louis nor Athanaze could not get to three figures in the series, at least according to us, is their inexperience. The only reason why Hodge could not manage another fifty in the series to us, is the same - relative inexperience.

But for Hodge, the inexperience is at the international level, which is quite obvious and straightforward. For the other two, it is at the domestic level.

Both Louis and Athanaze needed more time out in the middle facing the red ball before they faced quality fast bowling in Test cricket. They needed more balls to face before taking guard against a #MarkWood. They needed more game awareness before taking on a rookie off-spinner in #ShoaibBashir, at the Test level. They didn't have it with them.

Now we don't have any personal hate for McKenzie, not at all. But he just did not look ready for a contest with a good bowling attack in its own backyard at this level. Reason being, that very inexperience at the domestic level.

If you have to learn on the job, it's better to do so against sides with lesser competence. For example, and with all due respect, a #Zimbabwe or an #Ireland or an #Afghanistan. They, as teams, are really, really inexperienced when it comes to Test cricket. So playing against their attacks is comparatively okay.

But against teams like #Australia and #England, that too at their homes, the readiness that comes with prior experience, matters. For batters, it certainly matters.

Anyway, all three of Louis, Athanaze and Hodge are long-term prospects with the bat in whites. Hope their investment in #TagenarineChanderpaul is still very much in place because he showed that he too can bat in international cricket.

The thing is, they require #ShaiHope to come back. Yes, not just like that. He too needs to play more red-ball cricket to get back into the fold but for someone so good in the 50-overs format, there has to be a place now in the 5-day set-up!

It is the responsibility of the board and #Barbados cricket to convince him. At least to try and convince him. It is important. It is crucial. Get Shai Hope back playing Test cricket for the West Indies, please!

Two things regarding cricket in the #Caribbean we are not going to highlight are so many talented West Indian batters from the past fading away and, money. Why? Because things have to start changing from within. Once those changes show, support will come from outside. It will.

We are going to consistently throw light on the team taking Test cricket seriously by backing the young and new batting line-up, as well as, bringing back a name as accomplished as Hope. And that's the post right here.