ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC - Courtney Browne, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon and Wavell Hinds have all been part of a massive recall to the West Indies 14-member limited-overs team for the ICC Champions Trophy series in Britain next month.
Half-dozen players from the squad of 15 that helped West Indies reach the final of the three-nation series in Britain involving hosts England and New Zealand have been left out.
Injury has prompted the omission of Tino Best and Ravi Rampaul, but Carlton Baugh, Jr., Ridley Jacobs, Darren Sammy, and Devon Smith have all been shown the door.
Brian Lara could also be relieved of the post of West Indies captain when the directors of the West Indies Cricket Board hold a teleconference call, today, to consider the selection panel’s choice for the leadership position.
With the selection committee, under the chairmanship of Joey Carew, having sprung the surprise of recalling Browne, it will fuel calls in some quarters for the wicketkeeper/batsman, who has led Barbados to back-to-back titles in the West Indies first-class championship, to be given the post of captain in a caretaker role.
Browne, who has appeared in 14 Tests and 28 limited-overs matches for West Indies, last toured when Carl Hooper’s side visited Zimbabwe and Kenya three years ago.
“Browne has been a consistent performer at the regional level and has sound international experience,” Carew remarked in a WICB news release.
Carew also made a case for the recall of Dillon, who lost favour with the panel under Sir Vivian Richards during the home series against England and Bangladesh, and Hinds, who has fully recovered from the groin injury that sent him home early from the tour of South Africa earlier this year.
“Mervyn Dillon has been recalled to add experience and consistency to the bowling,” Carew said.
“Wavell Hinds is now fully fit and was passed by the medical panel and his all-round ability will strengthen the team.”
West Indies reached the final of the three-nation series last month in England, where they lost to New Zealand. They now trail 2-0 in the four-Test series against Michael Vaughan’s England side entering the third Test, starting tomorrow.
A dozen teams are taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy that has been split into four groups of three teams with West Indies being joined by South Africa and Bangladesh in Group-B.
The winners of each group advance to the semifinals with the final on September 25 at Lord’s.