By Brandon Corlette

West Indies will play against India in the second Test match from July 20 at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago.

After West Indies lost by an innings and 141 runs, inside three days in the opening Test match in Dominica, veteran international cricket commentator, Joseph “Reds” Perreira is calling for the West Indies selectors to make bold changes.

“After the heavy defeat in three days in Dominica, selectors, the Honourable Dr Desmond Haynes and Roland Butcher, are now forced to really re-construct the side with some major changes. I certainly believe they should make some bold changes.

“What has not worked in the past continues to be non-productive, and certainly a line-up for the second Test will offer the Caribbean people some hope as we might be competitive, especially if there is some backing from the crowd for the 100th game anniversary celebration,” Perreira said.

“My side will be [Captain Kraigg] Brathwaite; [Tagenarine] Chanderpaul; [Alick] Athanaze at three; [Brandon] King; [Kirk] McKenzie; [Shai] Hope; [Jason] Holder; [Alzarri] Joseph; [Kemar] Roach; [Akeem] Jordan or [Shannon] Gabriel, and Bryan Charles the off-spinner.

“Gabriel will bring genuine pace, while Jordan will demonstrate his control in bowling a good off-stump line. With the uncertainty of [Rahkeem] Cornwall’s fitness, my off-spinner would be Bryan Charles, who had good First-Class figures, who, in fact, was highly touted by the selectors that they took him up to Antigua for the camp,” the veteran commentator said.

“If you want to give an off-spinner a debut Test match, there is nothing like his home ground.”

The pitch in Dominica was a talking point, and the West Indies Captain was surprised at the surface prepared. Perreira shared similar sentiments, calling for a better surface in Trinidad and Tobago, and a more positive approach from the West Indies.

“A better performance from the West Indies will be determined on a better pitch, but West Indies need to be more positive against the India spinners,” he said.
Perreira is calling for Raymon Reifer to be dropped, after he made 02 and 11 in the first Test, and his overall Test average in eight Tests is 22.92. Reifer has three fifties in 14 innings in Test cricket.

Moreover, the inconsistent Jermaine Blackwood should also be dropped after scoring 14 and 05 in the first Test. Perreira also believes that Joshua Da Silva should be rested, after he had an ordinary time in the first Test with scores of 02 and 13, and Jomel Warrican should also be replaced after he failed to dominate on a spin-friendly surface. (GTimes)