Hooper: King, Stuart Eligible for First Test

Guyanese fast bowlers Reon King and Colin Stuart, despite being left-out of the 22-man training squad in an eight-day training camp which ended yesterday at the Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, are still eligible for selection on the West Indies team for the opening Cable and Wiresless Test match at the Bourda Oval.

That's the word from captain Carl Hooper in a post-camp interview at the offices of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control.

Hooper said the selectors made it clear that the squad for the camp was only for the first two Test matches.

"But having said that, they also stated that they can go outside the 22 and select for the first Test. I think they have left the options wide open, which is a good thing. I think players like King (Reon), Stuart (Colin) and the Jamaicans who have missed out, will have the opportunity to show up themselves again," Hooper stated.

The right-handed batsman said if King and Stuart together with Leon Garrick put in some good performances, they will put their names back in the reckoning.

He added that overall the camp was a success but is only that much you can in a week's training.

"Basically, the idea of having a camp was getting a squad assembled together with a view of getting a build up for the first Test which starts in two weeks time," Hooper added.

He was full in praise for the efforts of past West Indies captain Sir Garfield Sobers during the camp. "I think he offered sound and technical advice to the left-handed batsmen."

Hooper added that he was happy with the progress of injured batsman Brian Lara and was confident that the T&T batsman would take his place on the regional team in the opening Test against India.

Meanwhile, coach of the team, Roger Harper said that he expects West Indies to do well against the Indians. " I expect at home that we will give a much better account of ourselves. I also think we will be very competitive against India. I think we have a very good chance and we intend to play, if not to our full potential but very close to it," Harper stated.

The team for the first Test will be selected during the Busta International Shield final in Jamaica.

* SOURCE: Guyana Chronicle.