Anguillan in 12-man WI squad

The tiny Caribbean island of Anguilla is expected to create history today when for the first time one of their cricketers dons the famous West Indies maroon cap in a Test match.

Omari Banks, the lanky off-spinner, is likely to gain the West Indies selectors’ nod for the second Cable and Wireless Test starting today at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. Also in line to make his Test debut will be 20-year-old wicket keeper/batsman Carlton Baugh of Jamaica. The duo are among 12 players named for the match with the final squad to be announced just before the play today. David Bernard Jnr and Tino Best have been left out of the team.

The casualties from the First Test are the injured Ridley Jacobs and Jermaine Lawson who has been struck down with chicken pox, while an off-form Marlon Samuels is likely to make way for Sarwan. WI skipper Brian Lara said after the final training session yesterday that he expects his team to put up a good showing against the world champions today. “The boys are keen and have really put in a big effort leading up to this match and I think that they will do well. “We have put behind us the loss in the opening Test and come match time we are going out there to play good cricket. We are going to play it session by session and see how things develop from there,” the double world record-holder said.

Lara welcomed the return of his deputy Ramnaresh Sarwan but said the loss of Ridley Jacobs and Jermaine Lawson was significant. “I am happy with the return of Ramnaresh Sarwan after injury. He adds that depth to our batting. But Jacobs and Jermaine Lawson will be missed,” he said. Jacobs damaged his hamstring while batting in the nine-wicket First Test thrashing, while Lawson was struck down by chicken pox. Focussing his attention on the pitch Lara said: “The pitch seems to be a typical Queen’s Park Oval strip. It is expected to deteriorate on the final two days and batting will progressively become harder as the match goes on.

There is expected to be some early assistance for the pacers but after that it would flatten out. “What I like is that we have a lot of talent, a lot of young talent,” Lara said. “I haven’t done any history on it, but I am sure that this outfit has to be one of the youngest assembled teams for the West Indies in a very, very long time.” Lara and fast bowler Vasbert Drakes, both 33, are the only players over the age of 30 in the 14-member lineup, of which half have not yet turned 23. Batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, at 28, is the third oldest. “It’s a win-win. Whatever the outcome is, as long as we compete, don’t give up. “As long as we get out there and play hard cricket and give a good account of ourselves, I think West Indies cricket is only going to move forward,” Lara added. The Australians who have chosen the same team from the First Test took the day off yesterday and are expected to press for an early advantage today. Play begins at 10.05 am.

Teams:
West Indies: Brian Lara (capt), Wavell Hinds, Devon Smith, Daren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh, Omari Banks, Vasbert Drakes, Mervyn Dillon  and Pedro Collins. 
Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Daren Lehmann, Adam Gilchrist, Brad Hogg, Jason Guillespie, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel and Stuart MacGill.