Rampaul gets Windies Test call

ST JOHN’S: Young fast bowler Ravi Rampaul is the only uncapped player in a West Indies 13-man cricket squad named for the first Cable and Wireless Test match against Bangladesh starting on  Friday in St Lucia. Rampaul’s Trinidad and Tobago teammate Dave Mohammed and pacer Jermaine Lawson are recalled for the series opener, and captain Brian Lara returns from injury to tackle the little-rated Bangladesh. Lara, resting a damaged little finger, missed the One-Day International (ODI) series between the two teams, and comes back to lead a side anxious to rebound from their recent 3-0 home series loss to England.

Rampaul, 19, has played in 14 ODIs but has yet to make his Test debut. Lawson, who wrecked the Bangladesh batting when the touring West Indies swept their two-match series in December 2002, is back after a year out of international cricket while undergoing remedial work on his bowling action. In Bangladesh 17 months ago, Lawson captured 11 wickets at 12.26 runs apiece and was named “Man of the Series”.

Pedro Collins and young speedsters Tino Best and Fidel Edwards complete the pace roster.  Mohammed, a left-arm unorthodox spinner, gets a chance to add to his Test match log, having played only one match — against South Africa in Cape Town January. West Indies Squad: Brian Lara (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Smith, Ridley Jacobs, Ravi Rampaul, Tino Best, Fidel Edwards, Jermaine Lawson, Pedro Collins, Dave Mohammed. (CMC)