King Disappointed, Vows to Work Harder

Injury embattled Guyanese fast bowler Reon King has reacted with disappointment to the news of not being selected as part of the training camp from which the West Indies squad will be selected to face India in the Cable & Wireless 2002 series starting in April.

Speaking with CaribbeanCricket.com from Albion where he is preparing to play in the semi-finals of the Busta Shield competition, King said: "Obviously I'm a bit disappointed but that's behind me now."

King, once touted as one of the young fast bowlers to take the mantle form the legendary combination of Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose said, "I didn't have the kind of season I would have liked and the selectors seem to have thought so as well."

He says his immediate focus will be on winning the Busta semi-final and final for Guyana.

The ex-Windies quickie said he does not think that all is lost and he will "continue to keep in the best shape as possible" in the event of the likelihood of a West Indies call-up during the series.

"Injury is not something you wish on anyone but in the event it happens I am ready and willing to return to the team," King said.

He did not want to speculate on his chances of returning to the team for the forthcoming series or his future with West Indies cricket. He said that he will continue to bowl the best he can and leave the selectors' job to them.

The West Indies selectors opted to retain fast bowlers Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy and Pedro Collins along with recalling Marlon Black and calling up Adam Sanford and Darell Powell ahead of King, who took 19 wickets at an average of 32.89 this season.

From the early indications given by the selectors it seems as though King will be left in the pavilion looking on at the cricket against the Indians.