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May 04, 2007

Talented middle order batsman Marlon Samuels hasn't found a place in the 15-man squad for the 4-Test Match Series in England. It is a notable omission considering the fact that the West Indies are without Brian Lara for the first time in many years. So the question that arises is whether the Windies could have afforded to drop a batsman of Marlon Samuel's caliber. There has been no new face included in the Test team and there is also no place for a specialist spinner.

This England tour will be the first full series for Ramnaresh Sarwan as the Skipper, he has never led the West Indies in a Test Match. He will be assisted by a temporary coach in David Moore, an Australia, who was also the former assistant to the resigned Bennett King. There is no news on who will be the deputy of Sarwan.

Opening batsman and the competitor for Sarwan for the Captaincy post, Daren Ganga has retained his spot as the specialist opening batsman. Windies also have the left handed opening bat Devon Smith which makes it three openers including Chris Gayle. The absence of Brian Lara and Marlon Samuels has given room for right handers Sylvester Joseph and Runako Morton. The team will be with just the one wicket keeper in Denesh Ramdin with West Indies not playing too many warm up games against counties.

What was surprising was that the Selectors have completely ignored in including a spinner. The only player who could have made it most probably was chinaman bowler Dave Mohammed, but the Selectors think that there isn't enough spinning talent in the Caribbean. The bowling department consists of a five man pace battery. The Selection Committee headed by former Test opener Gordon Greenidge have recalled Fidel Edwards and all rounder Ravi Rampaul, who has returned to full fitness. There is another all rounder Darren Sammy who has found a place. The Selectors have ignored left arm swing bowler Pedro Collins although reports are coming that he is doing well on the domestic front.

The pace trio of Corey Collymore, Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor followed with the medium pacers does look impressive. Now the West Indies need to get their batsmen to perform consistently enough to give their bowlers a chance. The first of the four test matches is on the 17th of May at the Mecca of World Cricket, Lord's. The Squads for the Twenty20 Internationals and the three ODIs will be picked later.

West Indies Test Squad : Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Daren Ganga,  Ramnaresh Sarwan (Captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Sylvester Joseph, Runako Morton, Denesh Ramdin (Wicket Keeper), Ravi Rampaul, Darren Sammy, Corey Collymore, Daren Powell, Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards

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