Former Windies and Jamaica player Nehemiah Odolphus Perry recently said in a Mason and Guest cricket radio interview that discarded young Jamaican pace bowler Oshane Thomas needs to “learn the art of bowling.”

The young fast bowler burst on the scene when Christopher “Universe Boss” Gayle spotted him in a net session, and soon after, he was drafted to play for Jamaica Tallawahs.

He made his first-class debut for Jamaica in the 2016–17 Regional Four Day Competition on 18 November 2016. He represented the Jamaica Tallawahs in two games in the 2016 CPL season and was then retained for the 2017 edition.

He made his List A debut for Jamaica in the 2017–18 Regional Super50 on 2 February 2018.

The young fast bowler later made his international debut for the West Indies cricket team in October 2018.

In August 2019, Cricket West Indies named him the Emerging Player of the Year.

Lately, Thomas has been plying his trade in different T20 leagues but has fallen from the headlines and no longer features in the Windies’ fast bowler selection narrative.

Perry argued that Thomas would have been further ahead in his development if he had played more red-ball matches.

Thomas was lauded for his prowess with the ball by teammates, pundits, fans, and opponents in the early part of his career.

“We’ve had a few chats with him, and he’s in the best place he could be. He understands the opportunities he has; he has to continue to get fitter and stronger. The world is at his feet, it’s for West Indies to help him become another Joel Garner or Michael Holding,” Carlos Brathwaite said back then.

Meanwhile, India’s captain Rohit Sharma commented glowingly on his performance, accordingly: 

“Oshane is a really exciting talent without doubt,” Sharma said after India’s five-wicket victory. “He’s got good height, plus that jump he takes, if he bowls in the right areas, it won’t be easy for any batsman in the world to counter that. He’s really talented, and he also has the advantage of height which gives him the extra edge. I wish him the best in the future,” said Sharma.

However, despite some good cameos, Thomas has not lived up to expectations and is currently out of Jamaica and Windies squad.

The player’s conditioning and fitness have come under scrutiny, with the bowler looking several pounds overweight and not approaching speeds seen earlier in his career.

Perry argues, however, that a part of the problem was the player’s introduction in the shortest format.

“When I saw Oshane and he was bowling real quick, yes there were some inconsistencies in his delivery but when he gets right he can be very lethal,” Perry told the Mason and Guest radio show.

“I said to my colleagues in the Caribbean and Jamaica; we need to play Oshane Thomas in four-day cricket. He needs to play the long version of the game; he needs to learn how to bowl. Learn the art of bowling.

“If you blood someone in T20 cricket where all they have to do is bowl short, not sure were you going to land the delivery. If you play four-day cricket and you are bowling 20 overs a day you are going to learn the art of bowling and bowling more consistently,” he added.

‘Your body will be stronger, and you will have a better work ethic,” posited Perry.

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Readers Bureau, Contributor

Edited by Jesus Chan

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