Deonarine named in Windies squad for first Test

Bridgetown (Barbados), April 5 (IANS/CMC) Left-hander Narsingh Deonarine has been recalled after two years in the wilderness while out-of-form openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell have clinched spots in the 13-man West Indies squad announced Thursday for the first Test against Australia starting Saturday.

The side will be led by Darren Sammy with young Barbados batsman Kirk Edwards appointed his deputy.

Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, who played just one match in the first class championship because of injury and illness, has been recalled and joins speedsters Fidel Edwards and Kemar Roach.

"As selectors, we felt the team did a very good job in the ODIs and Twenty20s under the leadership of Darren Sammy, and we expect them to continue to show that same kind of fight and determination in the longer format," said chairman of selectors Clyde Butts.

"It is never easy, and we know the Aussies will come hard at us, but we believe we have selected a squad that can do the job and make the people of Caribbean proud. Also, we are in the first phase of a long year of international cricket and success would be a key in the continued building of a fighting unit."

Deonarine, who last played for West Indies against South Africa back in 2010, has been rewarded for a prolific first class season where he gathered 582 runs at an average of 44.76 and took 20 wickets with his off-spin.

The 28-year-old has endured a sporadic international career since making his international debut seven years ago. He played four Tests in 2005 before being axed and had to wait another five years before another chance to wear the Windies colours.

Stylish left-hander Darren Bravo will also enter the Test in a bad patch of form. He gathered 48 runs in five one-day innings against Australia, scored 12 in his only Twenty20 and failed with 13 and seven after returning to Trinidad and Tobago's side for their first class semi-final against Barbados last weekend.

Bravo had also signed for Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League but is expected to now miss the first half of the tournament as he makes himself available for the West Indies.

Batsman Marlon Samuels, however, is out of the Windies squad after leaving for the IPL where he will represent Pune Warriors.

He is one of several IPL-bound Windies players unavailable as opener Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine have all signed up for the lucrative competition.

Squad - Darren Sammy (captain), Kirk Edwards, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Fidel Edwards, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach.

--IANS/CMC

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