ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada - Several contenders for places on the West Indies team for the Test matches over the coming weeks and months have a final opportunity to stake their claims when a West Indies Cricket Board XI meet Bangladesh in a three-day, first-class match, starting today.
With all of the home One-day Internationals completed and the squad for the three-nation series in Britain selected, the focus of the Sir Vivian Richards-led selection panel now switches to finding adequate resources to fortify the team for the two Tests against the Bangladeshis and four against England (away) in July-August.
Richards and company have done the visitors no favours with some enforced last-minute changes that has strengthened the WICB XI by increasing the number of Test caps to eight.
All, but opening batsman Kurt Wilkinson, have played for the senior West Indies side either in Tests or ODIs and even he toured South Africa earlier this year without playing.
Omari Banks, Carlton Baugh, Jr., Corey Collymore, Wavell Hinds, Jermaine Lawson, Dave Mohammed, Devon Smith and Dwayne Smith, all Test players, have a chance to show form and fitness and cement their places for either the Bangladesh or the England series.
Bangladesh also has much to prove. They were swept 3-0 in the preceding ODI series and are looking for a boost in their confidence ahead of the much tougher assignments of the two Tests in St. Lucia (May 28-June 1) and Jamaica (June 4-8).
As previously announced, the Bangladeshis welcome Javed Omar, Enamul Haque, Jr., and medium-paced bowler Alamgir Khan on tour and bade farewell to Abdur Razzak, Khaled Mahmud and Shahriar Hossain.
Javed, a stodgy opening batsman, and Enamul, a clever left-arm spin bowler, are expected to play key roles in the Tests, as Bangladesh seek to upset Brian Lara's side.
Persistent showers yesterday, however, were threatening to restrict the amount of cricket available to the two sides.
SQUADS:WICB XI (from): Sylvester Joseph (captain), Omari Banks, Carlton Baugh Jr., Dwayne Bravo, Corey Collymore, Wavell Hinds, Jermaine Lawson, Dave Mohammed, Ravi Rampaul, Devon Smith, Dwayne Smith, Kurt Wilkinson.