Banks in; No Gayle for Second Test

Leewards alll-rounder Omari Banks was included in a provisional 15-man West Indies squad for the second Test in Trinidad & Tobago but the absence of opener Chris Gayle continues to raise eyebrows throughout the Caribbean.

Banks, a 21-year-old off-spinner from Anguilla, was rewarded for a solid Carib Beer Cup season this year (270 runs; avg. 33.75 and 25 wickets; avg. 36.40). He joins vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan as the two additions to the first Test squad.

Gayle, who fell out of favour with the selectors after the ill-advised decision to play in the Double-Wicket World Cup instead of the Carib Beer finals, was left out. The selectors opted for a 15-man squad in the event wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs recovered from a groin injury to keep his place.

Jacobs suffered a tear to the rexus femourus during first innings of the Bourda Test and is unlikely to play. Jamaican Carlton Baugh, Jr., will likely take his place.

The second Test is scheduled for the Queen's Park Oval, beginning on Saturday.

Second Test 15:

Brian Lara (captain)
Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-captain)
Omari Banks
Carlton Baugh, Jr.
David Bernard, Jr.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Pedro Collins
Mervyn Dillon
Vasbert Drakes
Daren Ganga
Wavell Hinds
Ridley Jacobs
Jermaine Lawson
Marlon Samuels
Devon Smith