Barbadians mad at Rose's omission

As far as Barbadians are concerned, the West Indies attack should be Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Rose and one other either Nixon McLean or Mervyn Dillon.

Such is the feeling in this cricket crazy city over the non-selection of Rose that even the disappointment over the exclusion of hometown boy Sherwin Campbell and, to many of them, the ridiculous recall of 36 year old Clayton Lambert have taken second and third places in the debates following the announcement of the 13 man squad for the Test match.

``Something is wrong,'' said one irate caller on the Voice of Barbados programme hosted by Reds Perreira on Monday evening. ``Last year the boy was the star and today he can't even get into the squad. I tell you something is wrong.''

``What is Bishop doing in the team?'' asked another. ``Somebody must answer that. If he is a batsman, then select him as a batsman. If they are now selecting bowlers because they can bat, then what happen to Ricky Hoyte? Why have not the selectors selected him over David Williams?''

``People are asking what will happen to West Indies cricket when Ambrose and Walsh go,'' said another. ``You know what will happen - we will lose, and only because we keep playing somebody like Bishop instead of bowlers like Rose and Dillon.''

``Something is wrong with these selectors,'' said another. ``How can they not select Rose. I hope the West Indies win the series, but when it is over they should take the chairman and the captain, put them on a plane, and let them go in the Bermuda Triangle.''

Although the selectors have said that the selection of the team is based purely on cricketing reasons, although the hint is that Rose is not bowling well, and although one has suggested that Rose has lost his pace, among the rumours in Bridgetown, as it was in Port of Spain and Georgetown, is that Rose has offended somebody and is paying the price.

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