Chairman of the West Indies selectors Courtney Browne stated that giving the current Test team incumbents a chance prove themselves and the intention not to pigeonhole players, were the guiding principles behind picking the first West Indies Test squad for 2018 to face Sri Lanka next week in the Caribbean.

The decision to select or not include amongst the quintet of Denesh Ramdin, Evin Lewis, Jahmar Hamilton, Devon Smith and Jomel Warrican were the major talking points of the announced team.

After being controversially dropped for the 2016 Test home series against India, which led to former stalwarts Windies wicket-keepers Jeff Dujon, Deryck Murray and Jackie Hendricks telling Cricbuzz at the time how perplexed they were at Browne's decision, Ramdin in his first full opportunity to play first-class cricket since then responded brilliantly by finishing second behind Devon Smith on the scoring charts during the just concluded 2017/18 season. He made 799 runs in 10 matches for the Trinidad & Tobago at an average of 61.46, including three centuries and four 50s.

"We decided to stick with the incumbent (Shane Dorwich), who obviously had a decent A team series versus England Lions, and we felt that with building our young Test match squad we should stick with him, hence the reason Ramdin was not invited to the pre series camp training," Browne told Cricbuzz.

Considering that Hamilton was called up, Browne was asked to explain if Ramdin is seen only a T20 option 'keeper currently and if Dorwich fails, whether Hamilton is the keeper next in line for Tests.

"That depends on what is happening at the time. The selection panel, coach and captain will have to decide. I don't want to put it down to if Dorwich is not doing well, we just bring in Hamilton. Remember Hamilton is here primarily because of his A team performances and he has been in A team for a number of years and the good thing for us is that he also keeps wicket," Browne explained.

read more at cricbuzz