ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board announced a 14-member squad on Friday for the first Test against England, starting on Monday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground here.

Squad
Denesh Ramdin (Captain), Kraigg Brathwaite (Vice Captain), Sulieman Benn, Devendra Bishoo
Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jason Holder
Shai Hope, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor

Team Management Unit
Phil Simmons (Head Coach), Sir Richie Richardson (Manager), Stuart Williams (Assistant Coach)
Sir Curtly Ambrose (Bowling Consultant), Andre Coley (Assistant Coach), C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist)
Hector Martinez Charles (Fitness Coordinator), Richard Berridge (Video Analyst)
Fitzbert Alleyne (Massage Therapist), Philip Spooner (Media Relations Manager)

Commenting on the squad, Convenor of Selectors Clive Lloyd said it was great to see there were a number of players contending for a place in the squad.

“It is always good when there is strong competition for places,” he said. “A few players have been rewarded for the work which they have done, like Shai Hope, Carlos Brathwaite and Devendra Bishoo, but it will take some time to reach the standard of consistency that we all desire to see from our side.”

The 21-year-old Hope, a budding wicketkeeper/batsman, and compatriot Carlos Brathwaite, a 26-year-old fast bowler, are uncapped, but 29-year-old Bishoo, a leg-spinner, has earned a recall following a break of three years before which he collected 40 wickets at 39.55 apiece in 11 Tests and was voted the 2011 ICC Emerging Player-of-the-Year.

Lloyd added: “We have a new coach and we have to give him as much help as possible. He is a very positive guy, he has been successful and he is one of us. We had a good chat after he was appointed and we have spent the last few days in further discussions about a number of things, so we are looking forward to see how it all works out.”

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.comWhy oh God is Benn doing in the 14 man Squad. Permaul and Bishoo should be in the Squad. Benn was murdered in South Africa in the test, and the World Cup. We still have not learn our lessons.

My Final 11...

Kraigg Brathwaite
Devon Smith/Shai Hope
Darren Bravo
Marlon Samuels
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Jermaine Blackwood
Denesh Ramdin
Devendra Bishoo
Jerome Taylor
Kemar Roach
Jason Holder

In reply to don1

Seriously.

You will put the debutant to open out of his normal position?

What does really go on with allyuh?

wtf! Benn ahead of Permaul?

What de hell Permaul gotta do to get ah call up?

In reply to anthonyp


Did you not see popepaul on the spinning tracks in India

Clive Lloyd - shut the front door up. Devon Smith but no Permaul and you want to bring the youngsters in. Who got the most wickets in the recently completed regional 4 day. You guys Clive Courtney and co surprise me as I hold a lot of respect for you lot, but looks like Big Benn with a twisted back is better than Permaul. I'd be fcuked if I keep performing but the selectors keep pissing on me, I remember the same thing with Santokie, now he is fcuked.

Good squad
Courtesy must be having a toast, with the selection of Shai.

In reply to openning
Good squad? What happened to Permaul? Shai was a good pick.

In reply to notout0

In reply to openning
"Paper in your pocket" that's dosh - Are you suggesting the selectors are taking bribe

In reply to cricketest

In reply to notout0

Allyah don't follow the game, both Miller and Benn were at the CWC, these guys are ahead of Permaul.

My X11,
Brathwaite
Smith
Bravo
Samuels
Chandepaul
Ramdin
Holder
Taylor
Roach
Benn
Bishoo
C Brathwaite

In reply to openning

Ramdin at 6?

You think this is Bangladesh?

In reply to voiceofreason

I am going with five bowlers, yes Ramdin at six.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

A good Squad.I LIKE UM One that should give England a good rub. The Team picked from this Squad should not be a Pushover. I see the beginning of OPERATION CLEAN HOUSE-

thought Johnson did enough last time.

In reply to openning
HOLDER
ROACH
TAYLOR
BENN

On second thoughts ---add
BISHOO

will be the Bowlers

In reply to camos
wAS LOOKING FOR HIM
eARLY DAYS YET

4 tEST matches to go

Another series, another exalted expectation. Followed by anger when we fail..

Someone convince me why we will do better this year, given our record of failure over the last 5 years and beyond.

I've seen this before, it's called fan's optimism..

In reply to voiceofreason

Shai is an opening batsman

Well the first thing in order for the batting is to get an established opening pair.

Brathwaite /Hope or Brathwaite/Devon?...To me once you pick Devon you have to play him.

In reply to analyst-kid

Pick Devon and Hope

Drop Ramdin

Considering in test matches home that our batting is the weaker aspect should we go with Ramdin at 6 hoping Holder will come thru as the all-rounder?

Blackwood is a future prospect but he failed in SA and he has not done so well in the regionals therefere we HOPE that HOPE will do well.

Brathwaite
Devon
Bravo
Samuels
Hope
Shiv
Ramdin
Holder
Roach
Taylor
Bishoo

In reply to tc1

then he should have opened the batting for Barbados...but he didn't.

In reply to openning

Is Permaul the best bowler in WI or did he get the most wicket in regional by accident. Are we playing the test on different wickets? Is the 1st test schedule for Joburg?

In reply to analyst-kid

In reply to anthonypCHLloyd makes lots of commseents but the slection does not tally. it is grossly unfair that Permaul is not in the squad especially since he is the leading wicket taker and he can also bat better than Been. The only negative thing about him is that he is not a good fielder. If I was him if not selected this year look to go to Canada or the US

In reply to openning

In reply to Raggs

Yep or even Benn for Roach

If Benn is not fully fit as I think that would be the case (cause a back doesnt heal quickly) then Bishoo should play.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

K. Brathwaite
D. Smith
D. Bravo
M. Samuels
S. Chanderpaul
S. Hope
D. Ramdin
J. Holder
D. Bishoo
J. Taylor
K. Roach

In reply to analyst-kid

In reply to Headley

the same man who seh Blackwook failed in SA
thinks Benn had a fine tour

In reply to WICFan

WI playing on a Batting Paradise pitch so while I agree with Ramdin at 7 this would require Samuels to bowl plenty.WI need another batsmen that can bowl well.

In reply to doosra

In reply to mikesiva

why?, he open at u19 and did it once this season, maybe he prefer to come in at no 3 or 4

I would retain Blackwood.

Them English boys will have lots of extra days to spend on the
beaches of the Caribbean

In reply to Pacy

Where is Gabriel?

In reply to 90mph

Pipped in the line by Holder and CB. Gabriel had his chances and was never gave good performance to demand a place in the team..

In reply to Raggs

can Holder Roach Taylor Bishoo get 20 wickets in the allotted time?

In reply to ducks
Can Holder bat at 6 and establish himself as an alrounder allowing for Ramdin (or other w/k)at 7 followed by 4 bowlers. The Guyana spins twins (Permaul not selected, so Benn) with Taylor and Roache would make a good bowling line. If Hope plays he has to replace Devon or Carter. Yougster with lots of time to come good.

In reply to notout0

Carter??????????

Not in the mix at all!

In reply to moneybrain

But the selectors have him in the mix, so he must be considered. Beginning to think Lloyd not favouring guyanese (no Johnson or Permaul). Strange how the regional winners have just 2 in the test (maybe this should be a separate post)

In reply to Star

You guys start this shit already--give it up

In reply to openning

Good team that, but will Ramdin ever establish himself as a batsman. This is a WI weak spot compare to the major teams. Imusic note Ramdin is captain, he can drop both Hope and Devon

In reply to notout0

Carter was not invited in the 20 for Tests.

[b]In reply to moneybrain[/b
ENGLAND 180 all out
WEST INDIES 302 FOR 2
KBRATHWAITE not out 102

Cant see any combination of 4 bowlers taking 22 wickets at North Sound but if only 4 bowlers then Benn must play. He has proven to be the only spinner in recent years to be able to consistently economically bowl the the volume of overs needed to spell the fast men. I would have actually selected Permaul for his batting over Benn and played 5 bowlers including him and Bishoo.

But given the squad selected i would leave out Benn, Blackwood and Hope. Holder and Brathwaite can fill the allrounder and stock bowlers roles.

Well I thought the Selectors were looking towards the future, why Smith, Johnson should be persisted with a little more, Smith has had his chance. Also, if Benn makes the final eleven, the WI should select five bowlers for the Test.

No squad will ever please all of you.

Let them play, then have your say.

In reply to Yamfoot

Wise words.

In reply to Commie

I'm a year older

heh heh



Lemme seh this right about now....

"the squad is a nice mix of youth and experience"
"I hope they grab it with both hands"
"Cause all in all" it's the best of the lot
let's hope they won't have to "go back to the drawingboard"

In reply to Headley

That was deliberately picky to back a non argument just to be spiteful and bias towards Blackwood.

Blackwood has played 5 Tests with a total of 147 runs avetage of 34+ and two 50+ including a 66 not out versus one of the teams with the top rated fast bowlers to date. That team also made the WC finals.

In reply to Yamfoot

Agreed Yammie but the continued knock of Blackeod is unwarranted and spiteful by them- the youngster is 23 and averages just about 35 with two 50s but dem wanna drop him A 23 year old that shows he can do it on the big stage. If he had two tons replacing the 50s plus they would still say he failed in RSA.

In reply to Scar
How about, Johnson played 4 Test and have an average of 39 runs, Smith played 39 Test and have an average of 24 runs. Smith is selected, Johnson is omitted, Where is the logic?

Wtf people keep pushing Holder as an all rounder??

The man looked good in a few ODI innings, and had a lucky 50 vs SA

He is no Test #6...stop the rubbish!!

Ramdin needs to bat 7, WICB facked up and lost the only real all-rounder that could bat 6 in DJ Bravo, now we'll have to do without an all-rounder til one proves themself, Holder averages less than 20 with the bat in FC cricket.

A high score of 52 in 36 innings is not an all-rounder, gimme a break!!!

In reply to notout0

In reply to DIEHARD

In reply to DIEHARD

Because some people watched how he played his ODI innings.
Because some people watched him before recently.

The guy can bat.

In reply to Logic

They don't need to take 22 wickets. 20 will be enough.

In reply to JahJah

Check the Batting Averages and Runs Total to see why Guyana does not have the most Reps.

The Bowling Stats suggest a different conclusion. Obviously Guyana's Bowling was the critical factor with the duo of Permy/ Bishoo.( these 2 could be used in tandem and Johnson could have played)

Bdos management was guilty of not prioritising Cup Victory over playing too many younger unestablished players like Corbin and failing guys like Edwards. Top flight players that are WINNERS like Ryan Hinds sat on the bench.

WRONG STRATEGY! Several unproven youngsters can NOT push out an excellent allround player, unless they really perform and/ or established player fails eg Edwards. Bim's management FAILED on both sides of this equation! (only if R HINDs is a major problem attitudionally, in which case he should have been fired completely)

I cannot understand why young Leon Johnson lost his place in the side and Devon Smith is picked.

Just look at the stats below.

Leon Johnson
Batting and fielding averages
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 4 7 0 275 66 39.28 512 53.71 0 2 39 1 1 0

Devon Smith
Batting and fielding averages
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 36 63 2 1500 108 24.59 3167 47.36 1 5 217 0 29 0


I have a lot of respect for Clive Lloyd and have always been one of his biggest fan but I am starting to loose it.

In reply to FAI

In reply to nick2020

Too early to call him your test #6

In reply to JahJah

Bravo had FC centuries before being selected to be a Test # 6 and has a FC average of 30.

The fact is his talent suggests he should have a higher FC average, but then T-20 and mismanagement came along.

What is Holder's FC average??

Putting a team together is not only about individual stats. Give them a chance. And I say that to Phil and the selectors too. Let this be the squad for the whole Test series vs England. Have faith in your picks.

In reply to DIEHARD

That should be, his talent suggests he should have had a better FC and/or Test average. The fact is he doesnt
Bravo has been on tbe wane battong wise and his bowling speed and accuracy is not what it was. He rekies mostly on the guile that T20 and hurry up and score games allow you to get wickets. How many slower ones you think one can get away with against good Test teams. 3 oer over?! Secondly an allrounder these days doesnt have to be a seamer, a spinner who can bat is so considered ala Afridi eTc.

In reply to Scar

I'm not speaking aboutt selecting Bravo at this stage of his career.

Had he stuck with Test cricket, had he not been dropped to accommodate Sammy.

Had the WICB paid some of his medical bills when he was injured.

He would be the # 6 batsman until he retired

Ah poppycock!!

In reply to DIEHARD

I would like to see Carlos Brathwaite ahead of Holder in the longer format.