Taylor Wins Test Call-up

The West Indies selectors has named 18-year-old Jerome Taylor in a 14-man squad for the first test against Sri Lanka starting in St Lucia on Thursday.

Taylor, a right-hand fast bowler from Jamaica, has been impressive in his three outings against the tourists on their current tour ? in a warm-up one day game in Grenada two weeks ago, the third one-day international in St Vincent last week and the current three-day game.

Taylor joins three other fast bowlers in the squad, including Barbadian Corey Collymore, who was a staple in the West Indies ODI squad but has only played one Test match since making his debut against Australia in 1999.

Collymore has been one of the more consistent bowlers during the one day tournaments this season against both Australia and Sri Lanka.

Mervyn Dillon, who was dropped or rested (based on who you speak to) for the third one day game against Sri Lanka in St Vincent last week also returns to the Test team.

With West Indies likely to play three pacers, it is expected that Collymore and Taylor will compete for the third pacer?s spot left vacant by the injury to tearway fast bowler Jermaine Lawson.

Wavell Hinds, who was dropped after the second test against Australia has been recalled following a successful one-day limited overs series in which he scored two centuries and a half century.

He and Grenada's Devon Smith are expected to contest for the opener's spot alongside Chris Gayle.

Daren Ganga also returns to the Test side, after sitting out the back-to-back ODI series against Australia and Sri Lanka.

Marlon Samuels who also played well during the one-day series but was dropped during the preceding test series returns to claim a spot in the middle order with Shivnarine Chanderpaul still unavailable because of fitness.

As the selectors did for most of the test matches against Australia, two wicket-keepers have been named with Calrton Baugh jnr in the team as a likely back-up to Ridley Jacobs.

Tino Best, who was in the Test squad for the last two matches against Australia, was dropped.

FIRST TEST SQUAD:

Brian Lara (captain)
Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice captain)
Omari Banks
Carlton Baugh
Corey Collymore
Mervyn Dillon
Vasbert Drakes
Daren Ganga
Chris Gayle
Wavell Hinds
Ridley Jacobs
Marlon Samuels
Devon Smith
Jerome Taylor

* From CaribUpdate.com.