BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Selection Panel today announced the West Indies squad for the first three Digicel One-Day Internationals against Australia to be played on March 16, 18 and 20 at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in St. Vincent.
Dinesh Ramdin was named vice captain of West Indies squad to face Australia in the first three ODIs.
Darren Sammy (captain)
Denesh Ramdin (vice-captain)
Tino Best
Devendra Bishoo
Darren Bravo
Dwayne Bravo
Johnson Charles
Sunil Narine
Kieron Pollard
Kieran Powell
Kemar Roach
Andre Russell
Marlon Samuels
Commenting on the squad, Chairman of the WICB Selection Panel Clyde Butts confirmed that Ravi Rampaul was sidelined with illness, while openers Lendl Simmons (finger) and Adrian Barath (finger) are injured.
“They will be sorely missed because they were two of our most consistent players in this format of the game over the last year,” he said.
Butts was however, upbeat about the inclusion of opener Johnson Charles, as well as the recall of Tino Best and return of experienced all-rounder Dwayne Bravo.
“Johnson has shown marked improvement in his batting and deserves another opportunity at international level,” he said.
“Tino over the last two years has been very consistent with his performance in the shorter format of the game, and Dwayne looks like he has returned to form and has been consistent, plus his on-field experience will be of value to us,” he said.
Butts noted that fast bowler Fidel Edwards was not considered for selection in this Digicel ODI series.
“Fidel is being considered for two formats of the game at this time – Tests and Twenty20s,” said Butts.
“It is all about workload management as we approach a long and demanding schedule of cricket, so we have to handle him with care, considering the injury problems which he has had in the past.”
Digicel One-Day International Series Schedule
Friday, 16 March – 1st Digicel ODI at Arnos Vale Cricket Ground, St Vincent
Sunday, 18 March – 2nd Digicel ODI at Arnos Vale Cricket Ground, St Vincent
Tuesday, 20 March – 3rd Digicel ODI at Arnos Vale Cricket Ground, St Vincent
Friday, 23 March – 4th Digicel ODI at Beausejour Cricket Ground, St Lucia
Sunday, 25 March – 5th Digicel ODI at Beausejour Cricket Ground, St Lucia