QUEENSLAND cricket great Jimmy Maher has called on West Indies' selectors to retain fellow FNQ product Brendan Nash for the second Test against Australia in Adelaide.
Despite proving a consistent performer in a shaky Windies middle-order since making his Test debut against New Zealand a year ago, Nash is in danger of missing the second Test after his twin failures in Brisbane.
The need to rush key batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, injured during a warm-up session before the first Test, into a poorly performing team has placed Nash’s spot in jeopardy after he scored just 18 and seven at the Gabba.
However, Maher yesterday said West Indies’ selectors should show faith in his former Queensland Bulls teammate and play him in the Test, starting on Friday.
"It certainly seems a bit hard if he is made the scapegoat for the West Indies’ ordinary performance in Brisbane," he said.
"I don’t think the loss was his fault, although Sarwan is a world-class player and has got to be in the team."
Maher admitted Nash’s cause was not helped by Travis Dowlin, another candidate for demotion, top-scoring with a gutsy 60 in the Windies’ first innings.
However, he believed Nash had done enough in his past nine Tests to warrant further perseverance.
Nash starred for the Windies against England earlier this year, with his best score 109.
"I’m obviously biased, but he did pretty well against England, and I would have thought that he deserved another crack at it," he said.
Maher said Nash possessed a fighting quality, something which is not commonly associated with recent West Indies outfits.
"Whatever he has lacked in pure ability, he has made up for with courage and commitment," Maher said.
Sarwan’s lingering back injury is recovering well, giving the Windies’ strong hope he’ll slot back in at No. 3 at Adelaide Oval after the disappointment of losing spearhead Jerome Taylor for the tour.
Windies selectors may not send for a replacement for Taylor, who was diagnosed with back stress fractures after breaking down in bowling just nine overs in the opening day of the first Test.
Maher will line up alongside Andrew Symonds, Michael Kasprowicz, Greg Blewett, Jason Gillespie and Andy Bichel in the T20 Legends Bash Twenty20 tournament in Papua New Guinea starting on Thursday.
