Dave Mohammed – West Indies Spinner
Dave Mohammed is a fringe West Indies Test player who made his Test debut against South Africa in Capetown in 2004. He is a rarity in the cricket fraternity-being a left-arm wrist-spinner. although wrist spinners were thought to lack control because of the nature of the bowling style, Mohammed’s strong point is his excellent control and accuracy.
Mohammed started playing first Class cricket for Trinidad and Tobago in 2001. He made an immediate impact; taking a wicket with his first delivery in regional cricket. The variations he employed at that early stage, including bowling the “chinaman” earned him selection to the West Indies squad against South Africa after just three First-class matches in his debut season. However, the presence of his compatriot, Dinanath Ramnarine, in the West Indies Test team kept him out.
Dave Mohammed promised much with the ball, but did not find much success at Test level up to 2008. In five Test matches, Mohammed’s left-arm wrist-spin accounted for only 13 wickets at a woeful average of 51.38. As a left-hand batsman however, he accumulated 225 runs at a good average of 32.14 with one half-century. He scores his Test runs rather quickly too; at a rate of 71 runs for every 100 balls faced.
At first Class level Mohammed’s aggressive approach with the bat has fetched him 5 half centuries at a lower average of 17.14. No slouch with the bat himself, Mohammed dominates batsmen at regional level, having taken 215 wickets from 64 First-class outings. Ironically, Mohammed is more successful in the shorter version of the game, even at international level.
In seven ODIs for the regional team, he picked up 10 wickets with a healthy economy rate of 3.99 runs per over. Mohammed made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2006. In the Twenty20 version, Mohammed grabbed 15 wickets from only 7 matches with an economy rate of 4.97. His prowess and control in the shorter forms of cricket earned him selection to the Stanford Superstars in 2008.
Mohammed has been a key ingredient to Trinidad and Tobago’s success at the regional level in all forms of the game. He has won the Carib Beer Cup, Carib Beer Challenge Cup, one-day tournaments and the Stanford Twenty20 Championship in Trinidad and Tobago colours. Despite his repeatedly demonstrated control and value in the shorter formats of the game, Dave Mohammed remains a fringe player for the West Indies.
West Indies selectors are not in the habit of giving spinners an extended run in regional sides. Mohammed has been excluded from the West Indies team in favour of other spinners that the W.I. selectors would not give a proper chance to either. still, Dave Mohammed is the kind of character who enjoys his cricket and is grateful for the opportunity it has given him to rise from very humble beginnings. No doubt, he will continue to persevere and work towards regaining a place on the West Indies team.
Dave Mohammed – West Indies Spinner
Related posts:
- World Twenty20 Cricket betting at Bodog
- Do you agree with Kim Hughes?
- So, how come Ireland are now playing Afghanistan at cricket?
- Dave McMenamin: Los Angeles Lakers play Jekyll and Hyde
- Captain Cool and cranky quick define enthralling day