ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) - West Indies sprang a major surprise when they named fast bowler Dwight Washington in a 16-member squad to prepare for the opening Test of four against England, starting at Kingston’s Sabina Park on March 11.
Washington is the only newcomer in the squad that starts a training camp on Thursday, March 4, in Kingston, following which it will be reduced to 13 on Monday, March 8.
Four of the players who contested the recent four-Test series against South Africa in South Africa have been omitted for varying reasons, as well as teenaged fast bowling sensation Ravi Rampaul, the spearhead of the Young West Indies side who have reached the ICC Youth World Cup semifinal in Bangladesh.
The four players not included in the 16-member squad are fast bowler Vasbert Drakes and opening batsman Wavell Hinds because of injury, as well as opening batsman Daren Ganga and long-standing fast bowler Mervyn Dillon because of wretched form.
In addition to the surprise of Washington, Sir Vivian Richards and the selection panel have recalled Tino Best, Devon Smith and Ryan Hinds, as well as included Ricardo Powell.
The beanpole Washington is a graduate of the Shell Cricket Academy of the St George’s University in Grenada. He becomes the latest player to give credence to the West Indies Cricket Board’s decision to play an Under-23 West Indies B-Team in the first-class championship.
In seven matches for the development side, Washington, who turns 21 on Friday, took 20 wickets at 22.00 runs apiece and he has impressed most knowledgeable observers with his pace, bounce, consistency and high work rate.
Best was the leading bowler in the Carib Beer 2004 Cricket Series, the West Indies first-class championship, after the preliminary stages. He had 35 wickets at 12.60 apiece and only injury prevented him from playing in this weekend’s semifinal against Guyana at Kensington Oval.
Left-handed opener Smith has been the leading batsman in the Championship and, after the semifinal against Jamaica, took his tally of runs for the season to 842 runs at 76.54 in seven matches in which he has scored four hundreds and three half-centuries.
Five times this season, Hinds has passed 50 without scoring a hundred, but he has gathered 481 runs at 43.72. His highest score has been 83, but his steady left-arm spin and razor-sharp fielding makes him a useful addition to the team’s armoury.
Powell has been considered a One-day specialist for much of his international career. He only made two appearances in the Carib Beer Series because of ODI duty in South Africa, but he scored a wonderful hundred against repeat Carib Beer Cup champions Barbados in the final preliminary round.
Meanwhile, the West Indies Cricket Board Inc. has confirmed Brian Lara as captain for both the England and Bangladesh home series.
Squad:
Brian Lara (captain), Carlton Baugh Jr., Tino Best, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Dave Mohammed, Ricardo Powell, Adam Sanford, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith, Dwayne Smith, and Dwight Washington.