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By Dr. Terrence Blackman
The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Men’s Selection Panel has named the squad to participate in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifiers. The eight-team tournament will be played in Zimbabwe from 18 June. The West Indies look to secure one of the two final places in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup to be played in India later this year. The team sheet reads: Shai Hope (captain), Rovman Powell (vice captain), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, and Romario Shepherd.
Guyanese, Shimron Hetmyer, arguably the most accomplished white ball batter of this generation, did not make the team. As a passionate cricket enthusiast, I have always held the West Indies cricket team in high regard due to our aggressive style of play and the exceptional talents we have nurtured over the years. Shimron Hetmyer’s performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) demonstrate that he possesses extraordinary talent. It is evident that his return to the West Indies team would rejuvenate our performance and help us regain our former glory.
Why is this not happening?
Shimron Hetmyer was born December 26, 1996, in Cumberland, East Canje Berbice, Hetmyer started playing cricket at 11 and was part of the Guyana Under-19 team that won the regional title in 2014. He was the Captain of the West Indies Under-19 team that won the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2016. Shimron debuted for the West Indies Senior men’s cricket team in 2017 and was an essential all-format player for the West Indies. Recently, there has been a slow-moving breakup between CWI and Shimron Hetmyer. His last Test match for the West Indies was against Afghanistan at Lucknow on November 27 – 29, 2019. His last ODI in West Indian colors was against Australia in Bridgetown on July 26, 2021, and his last T20I was against New Zealand in Kingston, Jamaica, on August 14, 2022.
The recently commissioned CWI Review panel was tasked to “identify, investigate, and analyze the factors contributing to the poor performance” underlying “The untimely exit of the West Indies Men’s Team (“the WI Team”) from the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has urged CWI and West Indies players to find a ‘middle ground.’ The panel has termed the 2024 T20 World Cup – which WI will co-host – a “golden opportunity to hit the reset button” otherwise, West Indies cricket will “cease to exist as an entity.” The review group pointed out that Shimron Hetmyer’s absence in Australia World Cup “was a significant loss to the batting unit.”
The First Look
Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda, October 30, 2014. Photo by Vibert Cambridge
For many West Indian followers of the game, watching a young player for the first time, who, if only in your mind, and at that precise moment, seemed destined for greatness, is one of the genuine thrills of the sport. Such was my introduction to Shimron Hetmyer. On a visit to Guyana in 2014, I made an unplanned visit to the Georgetown Cricket Club at Bourda. While there, observing what seemed like a practice game, a young batsman abruptly commanded my attention, a left-hander with a unique but recognizable West Indian swagger, who seemed to have much more time to play than his counterparts and whose unbridled joy in hitting the ball seemed to lift everyone going about their own business at GCC that day. My colleague Vibert Cambridge, also watching then, instinctively snapped the photos and later shared them with me.
Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda, October 30, 2014. Photo by Vibert Cambridge
The depth of his talents became fully evident in August 2018 when he became the youngest batsman to score a century in the CPL; he made 100 runs for the Guyana Amazon Warriors against the Jamaica Tallawahs in Florida. Hetmyer’s performance was an announcement of the prodigious nature of his skill and talent as a batsman. The innings was praised by fans and commentators alike, and it was clear that he was a cricketing force to be reckoned with. In October 2018, Cricket West Indies (CWI) awarded him a red-ball contract for the 2018–19 season. In March 2019, he was named one of eight players to watch by the International Cricket Council (ICC). In October 2018, Hetmyer’s overflowing self-belief in his immense talent and his evident ability to put any world-class bowler to the sword began to draw comparisons to the genius Brian Charles Lara and the master blaster Sir Vivian Richards. In Hetmyer, many saw no doubt, no wavering, just pure confidence in his ability to get the job done and win for the West Indies.
Hetmyer’s career has thus far been impressive. He has played 16 Test matches, scoring 838 runs at an average of 27.03, with a high score of 93. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he has scored 1447 runs in 47 matches at an average of 35.29, with five 100s and a highest score of 139. In T20Is, he has scored 797 runs in 50 games at an average of 20.97, with a high score of 81, an innings of particularly great substance and character. Shimron Hetmyer stood tall, scoring his maiden competition half-century during West Indies’ loss to Sri Lanka which ended the team’s chances of advancing in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in India. It was founded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2008 and is contested by teams representing various cities in India. The league is played annually from March to May. It is known for its high-octane, high-quality, fast-paced cricket featuring some of the world’s best players. Shimron Hetmyer has established himself as one of the best players in the world’s most competitive T20 cricket league.
In the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL), Hetmyer was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for INR 4.2 crore (approximately USD 590,000), making him one of the most expensive West Indies players in the tournament. However, his initial IPL season performance could have been better, as he scored just 90 runs in 5 matches at an average of 18.00.
Shimron Hetmyer had a mixed 2020 season with the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He played in 12 matches, scoring 185 runs at an average of 20.55 and a strike rate of 148.00. Hetmyer’s performances were inconsistent throughout the season, with a few good innings and some low scores. Nevertheless, he played a crucial role in Delhi’s win against the Mumbai Indians, where he scored 53 not out off 25 balls. He helped his team chase down a target of 163, a harbinger of his emerging maturity and consistency.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the league’s suspension, the Delhi Capitals were at the top of the IPL 2021 points table. Shimron Hetmyer played a prominent role in the success of the Delhi Capitals in the 2021 season. Fans saw his talent flower with unique match-winning numbers in the IPL 2021 season. The left-hander played six matches and scored 116 runs in 6 Innings with a strike rate of 146.8. His performance continued to improve in the 2nd half of the season. He played eight matches and scored 126 runs in 7 innings with a phenomenal strike rate of 193.8! In recognition of his excellence, Shimron Hetmyer was named the Super Striker of the Season.
In the 2022 IPL season, Hetmyer moved to the Rajasthan Royals. He made 314 runs in 15 matches for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022. He scored very consistently and played his role of finisher brilliantly. With a strike rate of 153.92 and 21 fours and 21 sixes last year, Hetmyer’s ability to score quick runs and play aggressive cricket has made him a leader among the elite finishers in the global T20 game. Hetmyer is a blue-chip asset in the IPL, where teams are always looking for explosive batters who can win matches on their own. Hetmyer’s playing style is expert, aggressive, and flamboyant. He can hit big shots and score quick runs, especially in white-ball cricket. His strengths include superb hand-eye coordination, an uncanny ability to read the bowler’s line and length, a seemingly effortless ability to rotate the strike, and his fearless approach to batting. He is also an excellent fielder and can wicket-keep if needed.
Hetmyer’s return to the West Indies cricket team will revitalize our performance in all formats of the game. With his talent and skill, he can become one of the greats of West Indies cricket. His return will positively impact the team’s performance and morale. Hetmyer is a generational talent and an experienced player who has proven himself at the highest level on the international stage. His ability to score quickly and play aggressively will inevitably put pressure on opposing teams. His skill with the bat is a huge asset for the West Indies team that needs help with consistency in their middle order. Hetmyer’s return could provide that much-needed cover and stability. He has shown the ability to anchor an innings and score quick runs, providing a solid foundation for the team’s batting lineup. Hetmyer is also very popular among the West Indies fan base and his teammates. His return will boost team spirit and morale. His presence will lift his teammates’ hearts and create a more positive atmosphere. Hetmyer is a young and dynamic player. His return will inject youthful energy into the team, inspiring a more positive and competitive environment. Shimron Hetmyer’s return will undoubtedly have a revitalizing effect on the West Indies cricket team.
The upcoming CWI schedule, leading into the 2024 World Cup, which the West Indies will host, provided an effective platform for his reintegration into the side. The schedule is as follows:
- The 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, June 18 – July 9, 2023, Zimbabwe.
- The Indian cricket team’s tour of the West Indies in July and August 2023–two Tests, three One Day International (ODI), and five Twenty20 International (T20I) matches.
- The 2023 Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup scheduled in India between October 5, 2023, and November 19, 2023.
- The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be held in June 2024 in the West Indies and the United States.
The writing is on the wall for us to see. The continued estrangement of Hetmyer and CWI is robbing the Region of a generational talent and an opportunity at being among the global cricketing elite.
To reiterate: The recently commissioned CWI Review panel, Patrick Thompson Jr (chair), former West Indies captain Brian Lara, and Mickey Arthur, urged CWI and West Indies players to find a ‘middle ground.’ The panel has termed the 2024 T20 World Cup – which WI will co-host – a “golden opportunity to hit the reset button”; otherwise, West Indies cricket will “cease to exist as an entity.” The review group pointed out that Shimron Hetmyer’s absence in Australia “was a significant loss to the batting unit.” Hetmyer failed to board the World Cup flight and was dropped from the squad. The review group recommended that CWI host a three-day strategic “retreat” where players and administration can speak frankly and constructively address any grouses (real or imagined). It also recommended a performance consultant who could assist the players and management in defining West Indies cricket culture, identity, and values is essential to this process.
Finally, as part of the short-term strategic goal, the review group recommended shortlisting a pool of the best 11-13 West Indian players in all formats to feature in “as much red-ball cricket for WI as possible. The Review Group specifically identified the following players: Pooran, Evin Lewis, Akeal Hosein, Odean Smith, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Brandon King, and Rovman Powell and recommended that they should play Test cricket for the West Indies.
