News has surfaced that the selectors had nominated Chris Gayle for the captaincy of the ODI and Twenty20 teams in Ramnaresh Sarwan's absence. However that proposal has been shot down by the WICB, who are apparently favouring Daren Ganga for the role. Now, Ganga has proven himself to be an astute captain, but can he claim a batting position in a ODI side? He wasn't even in the Windies' initial list of 30 for the World Cup.
Gayle's "too cool" personality has often irked many a Caribbean scribe - is that the reason for his snub? Kool kat or not, Gayle is clearly one of the most established players in ODI cricket for the Windies. Gayle, despite his poor run of form recently, averages a just shade under 38 with the bat and has made 15 ODI centuries - more than any other batsman in the team. His leadership ability was pointed out by Brian Lara as far back as 2004 when Lara suggested that Gayle could be a future Windies captain.
Does the WICB favour the one captain approach and so want Ganga to be captain? Or have they snubbed Gayle because they don't like his personality? Or maybe they want him to concentrate on his batting? Whatever the reason, the WICB, headed by Ken Gordon, owes the region's cricket fans an explanation, or it will be all too easy for some to lay the now familiar charge of insularity at Gordon's feet.
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