Tony Becca
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Jamaica take on Barbados in the Carib Beer Series at The Three W's Oval in Bridgetown today and, after their performance in Port-of-Spain a few days ago, every Jamaican, despite their disappointment in that performance, should be wishing them well.
Going into that match on 12 points from first innings lead against the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands, Jamaica were bundled out for 193 and 89. They lost by 282 runs and, with Trinidad and Tobago on 18 points from two matches and Barbados on 12 from two, they are now in third position on 12 from three and fighting for their lives.
Such is the game of cricket, however, such is the standard of West Indies cricket, that Jamaica could bounce back and defeat Barbados, and in their bid to retain both the Cup and the Shield, that would be good for them.
CHANGE APPROACH
To defeat Barbados, however, Jamaica, who were dismissed by Trinidad and Tobago in their second innings for their third lowest total in the history of the tournament, will have to change, not only their approach to batting, but also their approach in the selection of the team and the way they play the game.
In Trinidad, their second innings lasted a mere 38.2 overs and they were in and out in under three hours.
Against Trinidad and Tobago, the composition of the team was baffling.
It was strange, to say the least, that a team that has been struggling to score runs, a team that scored 223 and 212 for nine, 204 and 188 for seven in their previous four innings, a team that boasted only two individual performances of over 50 runs in those four innings, could have gone into a match, a four-day match at that, with only four specialist batsmen and with five specialist bowlers, plus medium-pacer David Bernard Jr.
STRANGE LINE-UP
In other words, Jamaica, with Jerome Taylor, Jermaine Lawson, Andrew Richardson and Bernard, Gareth Breese and Nikita Miller in the line-up, went into the match with four pacers and two spinners.
That was strange, and especially so with one like Shaun Findlay in the squad.
Common sense suggests that Findlay, who had scored 29 and 70 not out in the previous match, and a century retired in the practice match before the team left for Port-of-Spain, should have been in and that, unless he has a divine right to play, Lawson, who is obviously unfit and struggling, should have been out.
Although it was not surprising coming from a team that accepted the offer of bad light when, after the last pair had put on 25 runs, they needed only four runs to defeat the Leeward Islands in the opening round of the tournament, it was also strange that Jamaica, on a good day and on a good pitch, won the toss and, instead of batting first, decided to bowl first.
That was strange, really strange, especially remembering that last year when Jamaica won the double, Trinidad and Tobago, the only team that defeated them, won the toss at home, batted first, and nailed the visitors by 70 runs.
BACK TO BASICS
Jamaica could well defeat Barbados in the match starting today. However, to do so Jamaica will have to change their approach to the game.
To win, to have a good chance of defeating Barbados, Jamaica will have to go back to basics.
The tour committee of captain Wavell Hinds, coach Robert Haynes and manager Maurice Clarke will have to select a balanced team - especially as their batting is generally weak, they have to select a team with enough batsmen, providing the pitch is properly prepared, they have to bat first if they win the toss, and unless they want the gods to frown on them, they have to play to win.
