Hooper pulls out from Test series

CASTRIES: Carl Hooper yesterday withdrew from the West Indies’ Cable and Wireless home series against Australia, while signalling an intention to retire from international cricket.

The 36-year-old Hooper said, after giving his selection in the West Indies team for the First Test “careful consideration”, he decided to inform  selectors and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) that he was unavailable. “This has been a difficult decision, but is one I feel must be made, given the recent developments over the last few weeks and the new direction in which the team will now head,” Hooper said in a brief press statement.

Hooper, who played 102 Test matches and was sacked as West Indies captain last week, suggested he is now prepared to step aside and make room for a younger player. “Though tempting to play, it would curtail the development of a younger player and I see it also as a backward step for West Indies cricket,” he stated. Hooper, who came out of retirement two years ago and was given the West Indies captaincy after a prolific season in First-Class cricket, was replaced by Brian Lara to lead the West Indies in the Cable and Wireless home series against Australia and Sri Lanka. He lost 11 and drew four of the 22 Tests in which he captained the West Indies.

The fluent Guyanese batsman, who has contributed useful off-spin to the West Indies bowling attack, did not use the word retirement in his statement, but made no mention of being available in the future and wished the team well in the forthcoming series. “I take this opportunity to wish the team well in the upcoming series and urge the Caribbean public to continue with their support of the West Indies team,” Hooper said. Hooper has scored 5,762 runs in his 102 Tests at an average of 36.46 since making his debut as a 20-year-old in 1987.