Windies keep faith with squad for second Test

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,  CMC – West Indies selectors have kept faith with the same side for the second Test against South Africa starting Friday, despite the first Test mauling at the Queen’s Park Oval last week.

West Indies were spanked by 163 runs inside four days to fall behind 1-0 in the three-Test series.

Surprisingly, Barbadian fast bowler Kemar Roach has been retained despite missing the first Test through injury.

The 21-year-old speedster, who made such a huge impact Down Under last year, has struggled with fitness and has not played for the regional side since the second Twenty20 International of the current series on May 20.

Selectors have also retained struggling opener Travis Dowlin who got scores of six and one in the first Test, as the Windies batting flopped in both innings.

Warner Park in St Kitts will host the second Test, with Kensington Oval in Barbados the stage of the third and final match.

SQUAD – Chris Gayle (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Travis Dowlin, Brendan Nash, Nelon Pascal, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Shane Shillingford.