Former West Indies cricketer Nehemiah Perry says he agreed with the regional side’s strategy to use five specialist bowlers against visitors Sri Lanka, but would have preferred an extra spinner instead of the fourth seamer.

The two-Test series — contested at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua — ended in a nil-all stalemate. Though stacked with five specialist bowlers, including four pacers and off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, the West Indies bowling lacked penetration in the second innings of both Tests, albeit on pitches which appeared more benign as the match went on. Perry, the former wily off-break bowler who played four Tests for West Indies in the late 1990s, said he would have included left-armed finger spinner Jomel Warrican at the expense of one of the pace bowlers. “I think you definitely needed five bowlers, but on a pitch like that I would have gone in with two spinners and three seamers,” he told the Jamaica Observer during a telephone interview. “I would have gone with spinners Rahkeem Cornwall and Warrican, because looking at the pitch you knew it wasn’t conducive to fast bowling. You need 20 wickets, so I would have gone with left-arm spin for a little more variety and then rotate the fast bowlers from one end, or you could bowl the spinners in tandem,” the Jamaican explained. Entering the Test series, Sri Lanka were ranked seventh in the world, one place ahead of the Kraigg Brathwaite-captained West Indies.

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Former West Indies fast bowler turned analyst, Richard ‘Prof’ Edwards, believes batsman Kyle Mayers could blossom into a genuine all-rounder for the regional team, buts needs to consider shedding a few pounds.

The 28-year-old has had a splendid start to his Test cricket career for the West Indies, bursting on stage with 210 on debut against Bangladesh.  The innings helped lay the foundation for an expected away series win and catapulted the player into the spotlight.  In the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka, he again garnered some attention this time with the ball. His brisk medium pace accounted for batsman Oshada Fernando and later Dinesh Chandimal at a crucial period on the third day of the opening Test.  The wickets were the first of his international career.  Overall, Mayers ended with 28 overs, 13 maidens, and four wickets.   On the back of such displays, Edwards believes the player could have the makings of a solid all-rounder. “He did well.  He was a surprise package to the Sri Lankans.  They didn’t expect him to get the ball to swing and by the time they realized it was too late and he had wickets,” Edwards said in assessing the player’s performance on the Mason and Guest radio program. “I’m saying that if he goes on and develops his bowling, he won’t trick batsmen as early as that again and he would have to consistently bowl well.

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Chief selector Roger Harper has praised deposed Captain Jason Holder’s attitude during the recent Sri Lanka series, contending the all-rounder had been “exemplary” in his approach and a source of inspiration for his teammates.

The 29-year-old Holder was sacked as captain prior to the series and replaced by fellow Barbadian Kraigg Brathwaite, but remained a seminal figure throughout the two-Test rubber which ended in a nil-all stalemate on Good Friday. He averaged 69 with the bat while scoring an unbeaten half-century in the second Test, and also finished the series with seven wickets after taking a five-wicket haul in the first innings of the opening Test. “I thought Jason performed very well. He got a five-wicket haul in the first Test match and then, of course, the [71 not out] in the last innings as well,” Harper pointed out. “He’s been the livewire.

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