Windies Face Challenge to Keep Test Pace Quartet Together

The struggle to keep young West Indian players committed to Test cricket amid the lure of global T20 leagues has once again been highlighted, ahead of the upcoming series against Pakistan. Alzarri Joseph, who holds a Cricket West Indies (CWI) central contract, has opted to participate in the International League T20 (ILT20), breaking up what many cricket commentators see as a potentially game-changing fast bowling quartet. West Indies cricket has been world-renowned for producing fierce pace bowling. Windies selectors likely believed that Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach, and Jayden Seales could form the latest iteration of this tradition. However, struggles have emerged in keeping this combination intact. The quartet has received high praise from well-known figures in the game, including legendary West Indian pace bowler Courtney Walsh. Walsh, widely regarded as one of the finest Test match pacemen of all time, took 519 wickets in 132 matches between 1984 and 2001. He shared his admiration for the new quartet’s skills. “I like what I saw, especially in the last Test match—four fast bowlers not just going at it but being sensible, being very competitive, making adjustments as they read the pitch and stuff,” he said. “That’s what you want...