Nags Wins Test Recall; Powell Picked

Less than a month after an auto accident threatened to ruin his international career, Guyanese leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo has won a recall to the West Indies Test side for the upcoming series against New Zealand.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) also announced that fast bowler Darren Powell would return to the Caribbean from the A-Team's tour of England to take a place on the team for the first Test, which starts on Friday at Kensington Oval, Barbados.

"Powell is expected in Bridgetown on Wednesday and will be cover should any of the niggling injuries currently affecting the bowling staff of the team prevent any one of them from playing in the Test," the board said.

Nagamootoo, who sustained facial injuries in a vehicular accident in his hometown of Berbice, will also return to the Caribbean to take his place, after spending the last few weeks playing weekend cricket in the United States.

The 27-year-old Nagamootoo played in the first Test against India in Guyana, but missed the second Test in Trinidad and Tobago because of a hamstring injury. Immediately after that game, he was involved in the crash.

If he is selected for the Barbados Test, the 24-year-old Powell would be making his debut. An aggressive fast bowler, he was among the wickets in the 2002 Busta Cup tournament, finishing with 25 wickets at 20.20.

FULL SQUAD:
Squad: Carl Hooper (captain), Brian Lara (vice captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Cameron Cuffy, Mervyn Dillon, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hinds, Wavell Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Darren Powell, Adam Sanford, Ramnaresh Sarwan.