KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - Long-standing left-hander Robert Samuels has not been named in a 26-member Jamaica training squad for the Carib Beer 2004 Cricket Series, the West Indies first-class cricket championship that starts on January 9.
Samuels, who played six Tests and eight One-day Internationals for West Indies between 1996 and 1997, had led Jamaica with varying success in recent years, but his omission was not unexpected following Jamaica’s exit from this year’s Red Stripe Bowl West Indies limited-overs championship at the semifinal stage on home soil.
No immediate successor has been named for Samuels, elder brother of West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels, but Wavell Hinds, who is currently on tour of southern Africa with West Indies, seems to be the long-term choice, while either off-spinners Gareth Breese, a former Young West Indies captain, or Nehemiah Perry, surprisingly chosen in the training squad, may be given the job in the short term.
The squad will be reduced to 16 close to the start of the season. It is expected that Jamaica’s players on tour with West Indies will be fitted into the Jamaica team on availability.
The Ruddy Williams-led selection panel has also indicated that West Indies fast bowler Jermaine Lawson, who has been undergoing rehabilitative work on his suspect bowling action, will be added to the squad as soon as he is available.
Opening batsman Leon Garrick, who played a single Test for West Indies against South Africa two years ago, is another notable omission, as well as fast bowler Daren Powell, who is currently on contract with Gauteng in South Africa.
Another opening batsman, Donovan Pagon, who missed the Red Stripe Bowl because of a discipline-related suspension, has been recalled, as well as fast bowler Dwight Mais, who was seen as a real prospect for the West Indies team a few years ago after an impressive first season for Jamaica, but fell out of favour because of off-the-field problems and injuries.
There are several uncapped players in the squad with whom Xavier Marshall, the only Jamaican in the Young West Indies team for the Youth World Cup in Bangladesh next February, will train.
Squad: Nicholas Austin, Alton Beckford, David Bernard Jr, Gareth Breese, Bevan Brown, Odean Brown, Ryan Cunningham, Andre Dwyer, Shawn Findlay, Danza Hyatt, Keith Hibbert, Lorenzo Ingram, Philip Keating, Maurice Kepple, Tamar Lambert, Dwight Mais, Evon McInnis, Donovon Pagon, Brenton Parchment, Nehemiah Perry, Andrew Richardson, Krishmar Santokie, Matthew Sinclair, Mario Ventura, Dwight Washington, Vinord Woolcock.