Poor excuse for not selecting Sewnarine Chattergoon

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,
The explanation of the Chairman of national selectors for the non-selection of Sewnarine Chattergoon is so dumb that I am now forced to ask how come he is a selector, let alone serving as chairman. Can someone put up his cricketing CV? There is more cricket in Chattergoon than there is selecting acumen in the chairman of selectors and I am therefore not that surprised with his explanation.
Just ask any of the coaching greats what makes the most successful team, and almost without exception, their immediate response is selection. Starting with the right athletes is a fundamental component of eventual success.  Major focus must be placed on the pure physical aspects and attributes of the ones selected. Can this athlete perform from a physical and technical perspective in the position I need him to, or have the potential to? Can he encourage others? Will he offer constructive advice and support?
The chairman is now claiming, when asked to explain Chattergoon’s non-selection that the exclusion from the squads stemmed from the observation of his poor shot selection during the competition. So Chattergoon scored a century and had other good performances, and poor shot selection still allowed him to do well?
“Chattergoon scored 273 runs in five innings, including one hundred and two half centuries, was the leading run-scorer in the four-day tournament, but being a senior player and getting out one way, that is, being caught behind and in the slips was something I was not satisfied with,” was the chairman’s explanation. So, in his thinking, it is better be out for a lower score and perform bad overall, so long as you are not caught in the slips. Well most bowlers take wickets via the caught by slips/wicketkeeper method. What can the chairman say to this? All great batsmen get out many times in this manner.
I am glad that the chairman was questioned and that the Berbice Cricket Board duly condemned the injustice, describing it as a totally unfair treatment to a dedicated and disciplined cricketer, who has always represented his county with pride and commitment. I believe that Chattergoon, who by virtue of his age, experience and performance, should have been there in the first place.

Cricket fan,
Jeremy Wills

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