Test debut for Grenada’s Smith

GEORGETOWN: Devon Smith was named yesterday — for his Test debut — in the West Indies’ final 11 for the first Cable and Wireless Test Match against Australia, starting at Bourda Oval today.

The 21-year-old left-handed opening batsman blessed with an array of strokes, has gained his place following two seasons of heavy scoring in the West Indies first class domestic competition. He will become the third player from Grenada — after Junior Murray and Rawl Lewis — to play Test cricket for the West Indies. The West Indies embark today on their daunting task of regaining the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy they lost to the Australians in 1995, and team captain Brian Lara believes his squad is ready. West Indies cricket has been lashed by potentially unsettling issues in the past week, but Lara is brushing the off-the-field issues aside.

Carl Hooper’s withdrawal from the team, the surprising omission of opening batsman Chris Gayle, and Australian Bennett King turning down the West Indies coaching job after being named by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) as their pick to take over soon, Lara suggests, are not psychologically adverse issues with the players. “The team is a very young team and seem to be unperturbed by what’s happening,” Lara said at a pre-series press conference at the Pegasus Hotel yesterday morning. “I’ve got a job to do, I’ve got to go out there and lead the West Indies team. Presently I am in the best frame of mind possible to do so, the guys are very happy to be here, mentally I think we’ve got to deal with the Australian cricket team. “There is no psychological advantage to the Australians because of what’s happening,” Lara said.

Four years ago when the teams met the last time here in the Caribbean, the series ended 2-2, and Lara, who had a magnificent series then, thinks the current squad is improved and equipped to be competitive again. “I think the team (recently) has been moving forward, just a different leader, at present considering four years ago I think we have a better team, batting-wise at least.  “This team is a more mature team, a team that we can depend a lot more on. I’ll back the West Indian players to come out and give a good account of themselves,” he said. Australia’s captain Steve Waugh will become Test cricket’s most-capped player when he takes the field today for his 157th match, eclipsing Allan Border’s old record.

West Indies team — Brian Lara (captain), Wavell Hinds, Daren Ganga, Devon Smith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Ridley Jacobs, Vasbert Drakes, Pedro Collins, Mervyn Dillon, Jermaine Lawson. Australian Squad — Steve Waugh (captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Martin Love, Darren Lehmann, Adam Gilchrist, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Stuart MacGill, Andy Bichel. Umpires — Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka) and Rudi Koertzen (South Africa). Match Referee — Mike Procter (South Africa).