Foo, Bishoo in West Indies ‘A’ team

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Jonathan Foo and Krishmar Santokie head the list of young, untried players, which the West Indies selection panel have named in a 13-member A-Team squad for two Twenty20 matches against Pakistan-A on November 5 and 6 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

Jonathan Foo

The others gaining recognition for the first time in an A-Team selection are openers Miles Bascombe and Johnson Charles, leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo, and off-spinner Ashley Nurse.

“We have a number of exciting young players who have come to the fore in the Twenty20 format during the CT20, and they are now being given an opportunity to continue on their developmental path against international opposition,” said Clyde Butts, the convenor of the selection panel, in a WICB media release.

“The Selection Committee has identified this core group for T20 cricket, and we are now looking forward to seeing how these players do on the next level up, how they respond to the pressures, and the challenges.
He said: “Also in the mix are players who have performed at the highest level and we are giving them increased opportunities to hone and refine their skills against high quality opposition.”

Foo’s 103 runs was the joint sixth-highest aggregate in the CT20, along with Danza Hyatt, but his average of 103.00 was the healthiest, and he played some important innings for his native Guyana to take them to the regional title.

He however, flattered to deceive, when the Guyanese side played in the Champions League Twenty20 last month in South Africa, where he failed to post a significant innings.

Santokie was one of three bowlers that snared 10 wickets (avg 10.00) in the CT20. The others were Bishoo (avg 8.20) and Nurse (avg 11.00).

His slingy left-arm fast bowling helped Jamaica reach the semi-finals, and he was a handful for batsmen every time he delivered, with a toe-crushing yorker, and mesmerising reverse swing his main weapons.

The jockey-sized Bishoo bowled with flight and guile throughout the competition, and was one of the main pillars in the Guyanese winning the title.

Nurse was steady, if not spectacular for Barbados, and his bowling in the Final of the CT20 was a revelation until Foo changed the complexion of that match with some lusty hitting, after a bit of charity from the Barbadians in the field.

Nurse was a late addition to the West Indies High Performance Centre squad, which visited Canada last month, and also performed creditably there.

It is hard to identify the reasons behind the elevation of Charles and Bascombe. They had modest returns with the bat during the CT20, although Charles stroked a decent 55 for Windward Islands against the Guyanese.

Lanky all-rounder Jason Holder, one of the players at the HPC, and stylish batsman Kirk Edwards were both involved with the A-Team earlier this year, and have regained their places.

Holder has been identified as a player with a bright future, and has been named vice captain. He also showed steady progress on the HPC’s tour of Canada.

Edwards was a consistent performer for the A-Team in previous series against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and England earlier this year.
Dave Bernard Jr has been appointed the captain of the side, and is one of five players bringing senior international experience to bear.

Squad:  Dave Bernard Jr (captain), Jason Holder (vice captain), Miles Bascombe, Davendra Bishoo, Johnson Charles, Kirk Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Jonathan Foo, Danza Hyatt, Nikita Miller, Ashley Nurse, Ravi Rampaul, Krishmar Santokie