Selectors generally unconvinced about the value of spin bowlers in their deliberations yesterday included two new to Test cricket in their squad of 15 for the first match of the home season against Sri Lanka, starting at the National Stadium in Guyana on Easter Saturday.
Both are orthodox finger spinners, the first specialists of their type in a West Indies squad since Omari Banks in Sri Lanka in 2005.
Off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth, 24, the most prolific wicket-taker in regional cricket with 139 wickets in 33 matches since his debut for Trinidad and Tobago in 2002, is called up for the first time for a West Indies team at any level.
He emphasised his dominance over West Indian opponents in Trinidad and Tobago’s hard-fought victory over the Windward Islands in Roseau last weekend, claiming 12 for 133 in the match, including a career-best seven for 60 in the second innings.
He is joined by left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, 26, the tallest player in West Indies cricket at six feet, six inches, whose noticeable improvement in the 2008 Carib Beer Series has earned him 18 wickets at an average of just over 19 for Barbados and an economy rate of 2.2 runs per over.
Which one is chosen for the final eleven – and, even given recent history, it is inconceivable that neither will – faces a real challenge against a batting order raised on spin at home and headed by two of the finest of contemporary players, captain Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.
Openers Brenton Parchment and Daren Ganga, batsman Runako Morton, all-rounder Darren Sammy and leg-spinner Rawl Lewis are dropped after modest performances in the Tests in South Africa in December and January. Left-handers Devon Smith and Sewnarine Chattergon are retained from South Africa to contend for the place as captain Chris Gayle’s partner. Ramnaresh Sarwan, fit again after his fourth injury in the past 16 months that disrupted his career and cost him the captaincy, predictably reclaims his key position at No.3 in the order. The Barbadian left-handers, all-rounder Ryan Hinds and swing and seam bowler Pedro Collins, are recalled on the evidence of consistent form in the current Carib Beer Series. Hinds’ last Test was on his home ground at Kensington Oval in 2004 against England when he was the last man in Matthew Hoggard’s hat-trick. He has been confined to the ‘A’ team since but his 327 runs in four Carib Beer Series matches and his steady, if unpenetrative left-arm spin, have convinced the selectors that, at 27, he is worth another go.
The same in true of Collins, 31, whose last of 32 Tests was against India in Jamaica almost two years ago. The only available bowler with over 100 Test wickets, he has the value of experience and the variety of left-arm over the wicket movement. He has followed his 28 wickets (average 12.85) in the Carib Beer Series last season with 18 in his three matches in 2008, including a Man of the Match nine for 108 in Barbados’ victory Jamaica last weekend.
The full squad: The squad is: Christopher Gayle (Captain), Dwayne Bravo, Sulieman Benn, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards, Ryan Hinds, Amit Jaggernauth, Darren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.
