I’ve never heard of it before, personal interviews to elect an international Test cricket captain.

I assume that in the modern day of technology and its scientific implementations, there is a belief that cricket problems can be solved in that manner. And this is used to show off the knowledge that one may have in scientific training, however, is it the answer to sport and especially cricket which, being an art and not a science, is governed by a different set of rules.

The skill necessary to perform in a cricket game is based on art and the observance of rules. In a game of cricket, the ball is still five and a half oz and the bat is the same width of four and a half inches. The pitch is 22 yards long as it has always been, and the bowling, batting and return creases have not changed its measurement since before the first Test match between Australia and England in 1877.

[caption id="attachment_1154751" align="alignnone" width="683"] Barbados batting all-rounder Roston Chase -[/caption]

The statement made by the CWI president Dr Kishore Shallow is instructive.

He said, “The Test captain is a significant role. It’s just not cricket on the field, but they are representing the entire region off the field as well, so we want to give them an insight as to what is required of them when they are considered. There is even a psychometric test as one of the components of this whole process.”

[caption id="attachment_1154750" align="alignnone" width="991"] Red Force captain Joshua Da Silva -[/caption]

It seems to me, with all due respect to the president, that they (CWI) need a non-playing captain who will be able to manage the "components of this whole process." It sounds more like a job for a manager or even a coach. This will free the captain to deal with all his responsibilities he would have on the field of play.

[caption id="attachment_1154749" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Daren Sammy. -[/caption]

Be that as it may, it is not the right approach in choosing the captain of the West Indies Test cricket team for a number of reasons. The first and most important is the nature of the sport. There are few sports in which the captain is called upon to play such a vital role as in Test cricket.

For instance, he’s responsible for the batting order, plus the necessary changes he would have to make, according to the expected fluctuations in the variations of the game and for impact. The bowling changes that include the opposing batsmen’s weaknesses, plus the pitch conditions and the most suitable bowler to use in a given circumstance is important.

[caption id="attachment_1154748" align="alignnone" width="1024"] -[/caption]

Field placings for individual bowlers and at what stage of the match; strengths and weaknesses of fieldsmen in respective fielding positions. And many more intricate details of batting, bowling and fielding. These can only be determined practically on the field of play and by observing the captain marshalling his forces to obtain the right results. How is this possible to assess in a c