The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket

Gayle, Sammy, and Samuels return from injury

Thu, Feb 13, '14

 

Team Selection

The WICB has released the squads for the upcoming ODI and two T20s to be played against Ireland at Sabina Park. The squads are as follows:

ODI: Dwayne Bravo (Captain), Darren Bravo, Miguel Cummins, Kirk Edwards, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Nikita Miller, Sunil Narine, Kieron Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons

T20: Darren Sammy (Captain), Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith.

Kieron Pollard was not considered for selection to either side due to injury. He continues his rehabilitation following a knee injury sustained late last year.

Santokie and Smith have been recalled, after playing the last of their T20Is almost two years ago. Santokie last appeared in a T20I against Australia in March 2012 at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St. Lucia, and Smith last played against Bangladesh in December that year at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka. Darren Sammy has overcome a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the preceding two T20Is on the tour of New Zealand last month and returns to the line-up to captain the side.

Also making a return following injury are opener Chris Gayle, fast bowler Ravi Rampaul and batsman Marlon Samuels.

On the ODI side, fast bowler Miguel Cummins has been selected for a senior West Indies side for the first time ever and is the only uncapped player.

Darren Bravo and Sammy, both of whom were restricted to one appearance apiece in the ODIs on the tour of New Zealand over the Christmas/New Year’s period, have been selected, while Gayle and Samuels have also returned following injury.

The team management unit has also been boosted with the addition of Saqlain Mushtaq. The legendary Pakistan off-spinner conducted a spin bowling clinic with a number of established and promising spinners in the Caribbean last year, and has joined the team management unit to fortify this area that has become critical in the side’s armoury.