Dillon blames ‘insanity’ for omission

FAST bowler Mervyn Dillon blamed “temporary insanity” by the Trinidad and Tobago selectors for him missing three matches in the team’s run to the Carib Beer Series Cup. With a moderate return in the first Carib Beer Series match against the Leeward Islands then sub-par performances in matches arranged by the national selectors through Christmas, Dillon was left out of the squad in games against Jamaica, Guyana and the Windward Islands. Trinidad defeated Jamaica outright, won on first innings against Guyana, and lost outright to the Windwards.

That home defeat prompted Dillon’s recall, and he responded with eight wickets in the outright win over Barbados last weekend to help Trinidad clinch their first regional cricket championship in 21 years. He was named “Man-of-the-Match.” However, Dillon couldn’t hide his hurt for being dropped for so long. “I was not just disappointed and shocked by that decision. I deem it as a moment of temporary insanity on the part of the selectors,” he said on Monday.

He also revealed he was badly injured during West Indies’ tour of Australia last October-November. “Not too many people knew that I returned from Australia badly hurt with a career-threatening knee injury which needed urgent attention,” he said. “Luckily for me the injury healed quickly and properly and I’m fully fit now, and just enjoying my cricket.  I cannot pick myself on the West Indies team, so I’m just going about the business of playing my cricket the best way I know how and hopefully keep my performances up.”