ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – The Selection Panel of the West Indies Cricket Board today announced the 15-member West Indies squad for the three-Test series on the tour of England, starting next month.
Shannon Gabriel bowled against against Guyana. Photo: Anthony Harris/windiescricket.com
Squad
Darren Sammy (captain)
Kirk Edwards (vice-captain)
Adrian Barath
Darren Bravo
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Narsingh Deonarine
Fidel Edwards
Assad Fudadin
Shannon Gabriel
Kieran Powell
Kemar Roach
Denesh Ramdin
Ravi Rampaul
Marlon Samuels
Shane Shillingford
Commenting on the squad, Chairman of the WICB Selection Panel Clyde Butts said: “We are going to England early in the season, where the conditions tend to favour the quick bowlers more than the spinners.
“Young Gabriel continues to impress the selectors in both regional and A-Team cricket, and we field it is a good time to introduce him to the team. We feel he will be an asset to the team in England and has a bright future in West Indies cricket.
“Shillingford has bowled very well against the Australians and we expect a lot from him in England. Bishoo has done well for West Indies in the last year or so, but he has lost some of his confidence and the selectors feel playing him in the A-Team against India-A will give him the chance to regain that confidence.”
Butts added: “We have got to continue to build for the future and we believe that Barath and Powell have bright futures in the game.
We also feel this way about Kraigg Brathwaite, but he too, has lost some of his conviction and the selectors also feel playing him in the A-Team against India-A will give him the chance to regain that confidence. None of the other openers in the region have stood out and we are hoping to strengthen this part of our cricket in future regional tournaments and the A-Team tours.”
Butts said: “Baugh has been good behind the stumps, but his batting has not quite lived up to expectations, hence the selection of Ramdin. Before he got injured in the camp prior to the Digicel Series against Australia, Denesh was showing good form both behind the stumps and with the bat.
“Marlon since his return to the team has not done badly for us and the selectors feel that he is an asset to the team. He had asked to miss the Australia matches for a stint at IPL.”
Full tour schedule
May
5-7: Sussex vs West Indies – Hove
10-13: England Lions vs West Indies – Northampton
17-21: 1st Test – Lord’s
25-29: 2nd Test – Trent Bridge
June
2-3: Leicestershire vs West Indies – Grace Road
7-11: 3rd Test – Edgbaston
13: Middlesex vs West Indies – Lord’s
16: 1st One-day International – The Rose Bowl
19: 2nd One-day International – The Oval
22: 3rd One-day International – Leeds
24: Twenty20 International – Nottingham