PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – West Indies will head to Perth for the final Test against Australia without a replacement for the injured paceman Jerome Taylor.
A source with knowledge of the situation told CMC Sports that the 14-man squad would remain unchanged for the match scheduled to bowl off next Wednesday (Tuesday night, Eastern Caribbean time).
The 25-year-old Taylor injured his left hip and back after bowling just nine overs on the opening day of the first Test in Brisbane, which ended in a heavy defeat for the Windies by an innings and 65 runs.
WICB’s cricket operations manager Tony Howard said that he did not know whether there had been a request for a player as he was currently on holiday.
“I have not received any request for a replacement for Taylor,” said Howard.
“I don’t know if anyone else has received one. I am on holidays at present and don’t know what’s the situation.”
CMC Sports understands that Jamaican fast bowler Andrew Richardson was expected to be called up but the WICB decided against the move based on financial considerations.
The 28-year-old, who is yet to play a Test, was included for the regional side’s disastrous tour of England earlier this year.
With no replacement for Taylor, it means West Indies head into the final Test with another inexperienced bowling line up, led by rookie Kemar Roach who has played just four Test matches.
In the Adelaide Test which finished in a draw on Tuesday, Roach was supported by pacer Ravi Rampaul, the medium pace of Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy and Sulieman Benn’s left arm spin.
Leeward Islands pacer Gavin Tonge is yet to get a game on tour.
Taylor started the tour as the spearhead of the attack, with 82 wickets in his 29 Tests.
