Make room for Sarwan at the Oval

There is good news for West Indies fans, ahead of the Second Test to be played at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain against Australia next week, following the withdrawal through injury of current West Indies wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs.

West Indies vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan is fit and available for the Second Test, so it means that the West Indies selectors will have to make a very tough decision ahead of this match. “Sarwan is okay, he is now just exercising his hand. It is his left hand and he will be ready for the Second Test. He is eager to return to the West Indies team,” President of the Guyana Cricket Board of Control, Chetram Singh said from Guyana.

“The doctors just told him to relax a little and all is well now and he has informed the West Indies Cricket Board that he is available. There is no doubt that he will return to the team and space will have to be made for him,” he added. “He has been practising a lot and putting in time to keep himself very fit and certainly he does not seem to have been affected by the blow he received against Sri Lanka. He has a strong mental attitude.” “He is missing the game a lot and believes he can contribute positively to the success of the West Indies team and knows as well he is being groom for the captaincy and wants to work alongside Brian Lara as much as possible,” stated the West Indies Cricket Board executive member.

With Chris Gayle out of the reckoning, it appears that newcomer Devon Smith will keep his position and the toss-up is between Darren Ganga and Marlon Samuels when Sarwan returns to the team. “It is clear that the West Indies need Sarwan and there is no doubt of his class and it may mean some hard decisions have to be made in light of this, as some of the players who may be left out may feel hard done,” he noted. The Second Test starts on Saturday at the Queen’s Park Oval.