… recalls for Deonarine, Sammy and Bernard
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Uncapped fast bowlers Andrew Richardson and Nelon Pascal have been named in the West Indies squad for the upcoming two-Test tour of England. Chairman of Selectors Clyde Butts announced the 17-member squad yesterday, and also disclosed that batsman Narsingh Deonarine, as well as all-rounders Dave Bernard Jr and Darren Sammy, has been recalled for Test duty for the tour that features Tests at Lord’s from May 6 to 10, and at Chester-le-Street from May 14 to 18.The 27-year-old Richardson has ended the regional first-class season with 33 wickets at 23.12 apiece for champions Jamaica, and the 21-year-old Pascal has battled through injury to snatch 25 scalps at 27.88 each for Windward Islands.

“When you look at our fast bowlers most of the guys are virtually the same size and the same height, and I think Andrew Richardson brings a little bit of a difference,” Butts told reporters yesterday.

“Richardson has got height and he gets a little bit more bounce from the pitches. This year, he has certainly kept himself fit, and he has been bowling well.”

Butts added: “Nelon Pascal is a young man that has some pace, and when you look around for options, he is one that stands out.

“This is not to say there are not other fast bowlers – because I think there is – and he is the one we think can make a bit of a difference.”

Left-hander Deonarine has been rewarded for a record-breaking season with the bat. He became the first batsman to score over 1 000 runs in a regional first-class season.

“He has shown most importantly that he has committed himself to cricket,” Butts said.

“He has also looked the part, and not only batting-wise. His consistency this year warrants him getting a chance to represent West Indies again.”

Bernard has also been given the nod, six years after his last match for West Indies. He owes his selection to coach John Dyson’s desire to have a batting all-rounder in the squad, since Dwayne Bravo has again been sidelined with problems to the ankle on which he had an operation last November.

Though Sammy also returns to the Test side and could play the role, the selectors felt Bernard offered them more with the bat at this stage.

“When we looked at Bernard and Sammy, he is more of the batting all-rounder, although he has been opening the bowling for Jamaica this year,” Butts said.

“He has had a wonderful season as well, and has also been consistent over the years with his performance.”

Butts did not believe Sammy has gotten a raw deal from the selectors, following his outstanding performance on his Test debut.

“I do not think that Darren has gotten a raw deal from the selectors,” he said. “When we looked at his cricket, sometimes we wonder into which part of the game he really fits.

“His batting has not come on as we would have liked, and he bowls well, particularly in the ODIs, although he took seven wickets on his Test debut in England, and this weighed heavily in his being selected.

“We would love to see him improve his batting and we hope he can go from strength to strength.”

The rest of the squad comprises mainly the players that won the recent home Test series against England 1-0.

Uncapped opener Dale Richards was also a part of the squad, but did not play a match. He is one of three possible openers challenging for the place alongside captain Chris Gayle at the top of the order.

The others are left-hander Devon Smith, who averages 24.69 in 29 Tests, and Lendl Simmons, who made his Test debut against Andrew Strauss’ side and opened in the subsequent five One-day Internationals.

Squad:
Chris Gayle (captain), Denesh Ramdin (vice-captain), Lionel Baker, Sulieman Benn, Dave Bernard Jr, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Fidel Edwards, Brendan Nash, Nelon Pascal, Dale Richards, Andrew Richardson, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.