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Windies selectors opt for usual names for tour of England

The West Indies' Marlon Samuels, dropped for the tour of England, plays a shot during the ICC World Cup match against Bangladesh at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on April 19. PHOTO: AFP

West Indies' cricket selectors began life without Brian Lara on Wednesday by trusting familiar names for the 15-man squad to tour England starting next week.

The team, led for the first time by 26-year-old batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, includes most of the senior players who were part of the Caribbean side's disappointing showing in the World Cup at home, despite other modest performances beforehand.

Marlon Samuels, the right-handed batsman and occasional offspinner, was the major omission from the World Cup squad. There was no room for a spinner with five fast bowlers chosen.

"We feel that [it is wrong] to totally change and go that route at this stage," convenor of selectors Gordon Greenidge said. "We wish to actually still compete credibly rather than just go through what one might consider the rebuilding process."

David Moore replaced Bennett King as coach, after King resigned following the World Cup. Moore, another Australian, was King's assistant and recommended by King.

Sarwan will lean on long-serving left-handers Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle and improving opener Daren Ganga to help prop up the batting.

Devon Smith, Sylvester Joseph and Runako Morton, for so long fringe players, have been given chances to establish a permanent place in the batting lineup now that Lara, who turned 38 on Wednesday, has retired.

Dwayne Bravo is the incumbent allrounder while Darren Sammy, of similar ilk, has earned a recall. Denesh Ramdin retains the wicketkeeper's position.

Daren Powell, Corey Collymore and Jerome Taylor remain the leading pace trio while Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul complete the fast-bowling lineup.

"We feel we have a good mix and we're hoping that this mix here would start the ball rolling as far as the redevelopment or the redefining of West Indies cricket for the future," Greenidge said.

West Indies is scheduled to play four Tests at Lord's, Headingley, Old Trafford and the Riverside Ground, three ODIs, and two Twenty20s.

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