Given the fragility of West Indian batting, it is not unreasonable to ask what has taken the 24-year-old Dominican Alick Athanaze so long.

When the diminutive teenager announced himself to the world at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, the only question was when he would be considered ready for Test cricket. Not if.

Back then he topped the tournament’s batting aggregate with 418 runs in six innings at the jaw-dropping average of 104.50. As it turned out the West Indies were relegated to the Plate Final, losing to Sri Lanka at that stage, with India triumphant as Under-19 World champions.

Those trailing Athanaze in terms of aggregate at that Under-19 tournament included current Indian stars Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw, and the name now on every lip in English cricket, Harry Brook.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has to take part of the blame for slowing Athanaze’s progress, especially since the accursed sickness prevented regional cricket in 2021.

But perhaps the primary reason is the chronic shortage of resources which limits the nurturing of talented, young Caribbean cricketers.

Leading into the first two rounds of the 2023 regional four-day tournament in early February, the elegant Athanaze, who bats left handed, was averaging only about 27. That reflected a frustrating tendency to make pretty 20s and 30s before getting himself out.

But after scoring 241 runs in four innings, including 141 — his maiden first-class century — in the first two rounds of the four-day championship, everything changed for Athanaze. Lead selector Desmond Haynes and his panel promptly picked him for the Test series in South Africa.

Since there will only be two Test matches — the first scheduled to start Tuesday — Athanaze may well miss out in South Africa. But if he stays fit and ready, I don’t expect him to wait for much longer.

The man to make way for Athanaze is 34-year-old Jamaican, Nkrumah Bonner. His spot came into question primarily because of a seeming vulnerability to fast, rising deliveries. This, after he was hit and concussed out of Test cricket twice since 2021. It always seemed likely that the selectors would be hesitant to take Bonner to South Africa.

Readers should bear in mind that the South Africans are blessed with a high class pace attack, including the fearsome Anrich Nortje to whom Bonner first fell victim to concussion after being hit on the helmet 20 months ago.

Why then take him to Zimbabwe the other day? Surely, it would’ve made more sense to ask Bonner to sort himself out in regional cricket — which, as I understand it, is what they are now asking him to do.

Whatever the reasoning, hopefully it was properly explained to Bonner.

The latter, like others on the wrong side of 30 — including Darren Bravo who stirred interest with twin hundreds for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force against Leeward Islands Hurricanes — will have taken note of young bright sparks who showed up in the regional tournament.

Among those was St Lucian Kimani Melius, a tall, nonchalantly dominant 22-year-old right hander. He hit 192 for Windward Islands Volcanoes — his maiden first-class century — against the Red Force. Melius was a teammate of Athanaze in the 2018 West Indies Under-19 team and the age-group captain in early 2020, just before COVID-19.

Matthew Nandu, a 19-year-old Guyanese left-handed opener with a rock-solid defensive technique, jumped the queue by stroking 126 on first-class debut against Barbados Pride. Nandu was part of the West Indies Under-19s in the Caribbean a year ago.

There were also intriguing performances from bowlers — more particularly the fast men to whom I am particularly biased — in the two four-day regional championship games which cricket watchers were able to follow on YouTube livestream.

Akeem Jordan, the 28-year-old Barbadian, has played just five first-class games but his control and skill — very much on show in his seven-wicket match haul against Jamaica Scorpions — was obviously pivotal in the selectors going with him for the South African tour. Jordan got his chance because of injuries to Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip.

It can be argued that Marquino Mindley, who was called up for Australia at short notice late last year following a spate of injuries, should have had the nod ahead of Jordan. Just a day after arrival in Australia, Mindley found himself in the team for the second Test. That was clearly not good preparation for a Test match. To me, it came as no surprise that he promptly broke down.

Back to full fitness, the Jamaican bowled well in the two four-day championship matches, though with only moderate success.

Me? I am all for selectors having the confidence to follow their gut and make the big calls such as the choice of Jordan ahead of Mindley.

There were other fast bowlers who grabbed my attention earlier this month thanks to the livestream — among them a big, strong, 26-year-old Barbadian Jair McAllister who seemed to be hurrying the batters.

From a purely Jamaican perspective, there is plenty of talk locally that Ojay Shields, who made his first class debut against Barbados Pride in a losing cause, is excitingly quick. I look forward to seeing for myself from the boundary’s edge, soon.