‘Reds’ Perreira wanted Da Silva or Imlach as skipper
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Veteran West Indies commentator Joseph “Reds” Perreira says the West Indies Test captaincy should be given to either wicketkeeper/batsmen Joshua Da Silva or Tevin Imlach.
News broke last week that six players — Roston Chase, Da Silva, John Campbell, Jomel Warrican, Imlach and Justin Greaves — were being interviewed for the vacant position following the decision by former Captain Kraigg Brathwaite to step down earlier this year.
While the Barbadian Chase, a veteran of 49 Test matches, is the most experienced of the group, Perreira, who has been a cricket commentator for close to six decades, said Da Silva or Imlach was the best choice.
Da Silva, a former vice-captain under Brathwaite, has played in 33 Tests, scoring 1238 runs at an average of 24.76, with one century and five half-centuries.
The Trinidadian had been the West Indies’ first-choice wicketkeeper in recent years, until he was dropped in place of Imlach on the West Indies tour of Pakistan in January.
Meanwhile, Imlach has played in just the two Tests in Pakistan.
Speaking on WESN TV’s Face of Sports show, Perreira said while Da Silva was his first option, it was unclear whether he could make the West Indies side as a batsman.
“My own feeling is that you either give it to Imlach or you give it to Da Silva,” Perreira said.
“Da Silva has got the experience of being the former vice-captain for quite a few seasons under Brathwaite.
“The big question is that from all reports, and I trust Ian Bishop’s description of Imlach in Pakistan, he kept very well.
“But the big question is: Can they feel within themselves that Da Silva can make the side as a batsman — because he has the experience as a vice-captain — but can he qualify as a batsman? Or would he push out a batsman like [Amir] Jangoo or a young player like [Kevlon] Anderson?” he questioned.
Perreira said while he was not in favour of the new interviewing process, which included a psychometric test as one of its components, he acknowledged it was in line with CWI’s “new thinking”.
“I thought overall it was badly handled and it follows a pattern of new thinking — no selectors, one person coaching, the Breakout League.
“There are new thoughts and new thinking, and it is not all of a sudden something totally new and the panel that interviewed the six people is just part of a trend,” Perreira said.
