Windies recall Daren Powell for Lankans

BRIDGETOWN: The West Indies selectors have recalled fast bowler Daren Powell to their squad for the first two One-Day Internationals in the three-match cricket series against Sri Lanka, beginning in Barbados on Saturday.

Powell, 25, replaces fellow Jamaican and reserve wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh in the squad that reeled off three straight victories against world champions Australia over the past eight days. The 20-year-old Baugh played the first three matches of the seven-match series against Australia when first choice gloveman Ridley Jacobs recovered from a groin strain. The 35-year-old Jacobs replaced Baugh in the 11 for the last four matches. Powell has only represented the West Indies in one one-dayer against Bangladesh in Dhaka last December. He made his Test debut against New Zealand in Barbados last June and has played four Tests. Sri Lanka arrived in Grenada on Monday evening for their month-long tour which begins in St George’s with a warm-up one-day match against a Shell Academy XI today. The visitors begin their international schedule on Saturday at the Kensington Oval in Barbados with the first of three One-Day Internationals. The Sri Lankans also play two Tests in St Lucia (June 20-24) and Jamaica (June 27-July 1).

West Indies squad: Brian Lara (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-captain), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Marlon Samuels, Ricardo Powell, Omari Banks, Vasbert Drakes, Mervyn Dillon, Ridley Jacobs, Corey Collymore, David Bernard, Wavell Hinds, Ryan Hurley, Daren Powell.