Cricket West Indies (CWI) say that they are being “proactive and precise” in the management of their premium fast bowlers after blocking Jayden Seales‘ planned move to Hampshire.
Hampshire signed Seales as a replacement for Australia’s Michael Neser but learned shortly after the deal was complete that he would not be granted a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to play in the early months of the County Championship season.
Instead, along with Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph, Seales will have his workload carefully monitored by CWI ahead of West Indies‘ busy international calendar later this year, which includes home series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan before tours to India and Bangladesh.
“Our fast bowlers are among our most valuable assets, and this season demands the best of them across every format and every competition,” Miles Bascombe, CWI’s director of cricket, said. “The plans we have put in place are deliberate – we are being proactive and precise so that Jayden, Shamar, and Alzarri are fit, available, and at their sharpest when it counts most.”
Seales has been made available for the first two rounds of the regional West Indies Championship, which starts next month. Shamar will only become available to play from the second round onwards, but will be involved in “managed practice sessions” beforehand in line with a “structured loading plan” from his bowling coach, CWI said.
Alzarri, who has not played in any format since September due to a back injury, has been granted an NOC to play for Quetta Gladiators in the PSL. “His workload and progress will be closely monitored throughout the tournament and into the preparatory camps ahead of the home series window,” CWI added.
The board said in a statement: “The intentional management of these players reflects the scale and intensity of what lies ahead. Prior to the commencement of the home international window, preparatory camps will be held to ensure the squad arrives primed for competition.
“The home series schedule features an all-format series against Sri Lanka, a five-match ODI series against New Zealand, and a two-Test series against Pakistan — a formidable run of fixtures that will place significant physical demands on the fast-bowling group.
“Following the conclusion of the home series, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will provide further high-intensity competition, before the squad turns its attention to away tours to India and Bangladesh.
“Across this entire window, all-format fast bowlers represent some of the most valuable and heavily utilised assets in the squad, and their management will remain a priority throughout.”
ESPNCricinfo
