November 08 Friday 2002
Give Reifer a spot on WIndies team 

ST. JOHNS, Antigua: If Floyd Reifer was being considered for a place in West Indies team for next year's World Cricket Cup, he would have been chosen by selectors for seven One-Day Internationals against India. 

This series is perhaps last chance for selectors to take a long look at the prospects for South African assignment. 

Reifer has earned right to be there and only other conclusion, which isn't necessarily logical, is he may have automatically won a place in the squad based on his MVP (Most Valuable Player) performance in Red Stripe Bowl. 

Still, it would be important for him to be with the team now to be part of fine tuning process. 

Perhaps logical conclusion for his exclusion is that selectors reasoned it's best to put another allrounder in the team to widen options available to them and bring about more balance. It's the most likely reason why Ricardo Powell has been recalled. Apart from his potentially match winning batting, Powell bowls off-spin as well. He is, of course, an exceptional fielder too. 

These are combined qualities that have proven to be effective for teams that have quality players with similar skills. Reifer in fact bowls a bit but hasn't been given opportunity to bowl his medium pace at regional level consistently. 

In reality he would be competing for a place as batsman in middle order. It is felt that young and fiery Jermaine Lawson should be in the squad. His omission from the one-day squad means it's not an age thing, probably more of a head thing. He is certainly fastest bowler in the team and ruffled Indians with his hostility in his first two Tests.