ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – West Indies selectors have kept faith with veteran opener Devon Smith and fast bowler Miguel Cummins for the two-Test series against Bangladesh starting here tomorrow.

Both were Tuesday named in a Jason Holder-led 13-man squad, which sees the return of of Shimron Hetmyer who was ruled out of selection for the recent third Test against Sri Lanka in Barbados through illness.

The left-handed Smith, recalled following a three-year break, managed just 91 runs from six innings at an average of 15 against the Sri Lankans. While he scored a half-century in the first innings of the second Test in St Lucia, the 36-year-old managed single digits – 1, 2, 0 – in his last three innings.

Smith ironically was part of a mis-firing batting group, with Roston Chase (123), Shai Hope (114) and Kraigg Brathwaite (104) all struggling for runs.
Their under-performance meant wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich came to the fore, topping the scoring charts with 288 runs to be adjudged Man-of-the-Series.

In a Cricket West Indies statement, the Courtney Browne-led selection panel said they expected more from the specialist batsmen, noting they wanted to “see them return to the focus and discipline we know they are capable of in the upcoming series against Bangladesh.”

Hetmyer, a part of the squad for the first two Tests without being able to secure a spot in the starting XI, enhanced his chances of a recall with a stroke-filled hundred against Bangladesh in a drawn two-tour match here last week.
Cummins, meanwhile, proved the weak link in the attack against Sri Lanka, taking three wickets across the three Tests at 73 runs apiece.

Those three wickets came in the first innings of the first Test in Trinidad as he came up empty-handed in the remaining Tests.
His place could be under threat from Guyana Jaguars seamer Keemo Paul who was called back from Windies A tour of England for the third Test in Barbados, when Hetmyer was forced to return home.

The impressive 20-year-old has already played four One-Day Internationals and Twenty20s, and could be seen as an attractive option because of his ability to also bat.
West Indies face Bangladesh in the opening Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground before travelling to Sabina Park in Jamaica for the second Test starting July 12.

SQUAD – Jason Holder (captain), Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Devon Smith.