Jacobs, Ganga Discarded; Sanford in

Vice-captain Ridley Jacobs has been discarded from the West Indies team for the first Test against the visiting Indians as the selectors opted for the hot bat of Grenadian Junior Murray.

Also dumped from the team announced on Sunday was Darren Ganga, the Trinidad & Tobago opener who has not done much in his 15 Tests for the senior team. Stuart Williams, coming off a strong Busta Cup tournament, where he led all batsmen with 974 runs (ave. 97.40), was named to partner Chris Gayle in the opening slot.

Leewards pacer Adam Sanford is the only newcomer in the 13-man squad, which also features the return of Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who missed the last tour to Sharjah because of injuries.

Ryan Hinds beat out Runako Morton for the extra batting spot and Mahendra Nagamootoo was named ahead of incumbent leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnaraine.

FULL SQUAD WITH TEST STATISTICS:

1. Carl Hooper (captain) - Batting: 92 matches, 5,020 runs, avg. 35.10, H.S 178*; Bowling: 103 wkts, avg. 50.13, best 5-26


2. Chris Gayle - 16 matches, 816 runs, avg. 30.22, H.S 175


3. Stuart Williams - 28 matches, 1,092 runs, avg. 24.26, H.S 128


4. Ramnaresh Sarwan - 17 matches, 1,059 runs, avg. 37.82, H.S 91


5. Brian Lara - 83 matches, 7, 221 runs, avg. 50.49, H.S 375


6. Shiv Chanderpaul - 51 matches, 2,934 runs, avg 38.60, H.S 137*


7. Ryan Hinds - 2 matches, 228 runs, avg 42.66, H.S 62


8. Junior Murray - 31 matches, 917 runs, avg 24.13, H.S 101*


9. Merv Dillon - 21 matches, 76 wickets, avg 31.81, best 5-111


10. Cameron Cuffy - 7 matches, 18 wickets, avg 42.38, best 4-82


11. Adam Sanford - No matches


12. Marlon Black - 5 matches, 9 wickets, avg 56.44, best 4-83.


13. Mahendra Nagamootoo - 2 matches, 6 wickets, avg 39.83, best 3-119