CENTURION, South Africa, CMC – Left-arm seamer Kenroy Peters or fast bowler Miguel Cummins could be called up to replace Kemar Roach who will miss the Boxing Day Test against South Africa through injury.
Media reports in Barbados have indicated that Cummins is almost certain to replace fellow seamer Roach who limped out of the first Test here on Wednesday’s opening day after injuring his ankle, and played no further role in the contest.
West Indies crashed to an innings and 220-run defeat on the penultimate day here Saturday.
However, CMC Sports understands that the 32-year-old Kenroy Peters is under serious consideration by selectors, especially after a superb first class campaign last season, when he finished as the leading wicket-taker with 40 scalps at an average of 12.75, earlier this year.
The Vincentian, who is yet to play for West Indies, has also made a bright start to the new WICB Professional Cricket League, with 13 wickets in four outings for Windward Islands Volcanoes.
Cummins, meanwhile, managed paltry returns of five wickets from five matches last season, and has taken just a single wicket in two matches in the current season.
However, at 24, the Barbadian is seen as one for the future, reflected in his inclusion on recent West Indies A tours.
Meanwhile, Roach remains bothered by the injury, even though MRI scans revealed no major damage.
Media manager Philip Spooner told CMC Sports Saturday the player experienced severe discomfort whenever weight was placed on the ankle.
Roach had been the most impressive of the Windies attack with two for 52 before he picked up the injury while running up to bowl in the final session of the opening day.
A decision will be made shortly on his availability for the remainder of the series.
Meanwhile In-form Guyana left-hander Narsingh Deonarine has been named to replace fellow countryman Assad Fudadin on the West Indies tour of South Africa.
Fudadin, also a left-hander, fractured a finger during warm-ups on the opening day of the first Test at Centurion last Wednesday and was ruled out of the series.
He was forced to undergo surgery that same day.
Deonarine has been rewarded for his good form in the early rounds of the WICB Professional Cricket League where he has compiled 306 runs at an average of 61, with two centuries.
The 31-year-old last played for West Indies a year ago on the dismal tour of New Zealand when West Indies lost heavily.
Overall, he has played 18 Tests at an average of nearly 26, with five half-centuries.
Ironically, Fudadin was a replacement for Darren Bravo, who pulled out of the tour because of personal reasons.
