Windies retain same squad for final Test

ST JOHN’S: The West Indies will retain the same squad of 14 cricketers for the fourth and final Test in Antigua as they attempt to stave off an Australian whitewashing, the WICB announced yesterday.

Australia lead the series 3-0 and will become the first team to sweep the West Indies in the Caribbean if they win the last Test, which begins Friday in the capital, St John’s. Australia regained top spot in the world Test rankings from South Africa after beating the West Indies in Barbados by nine wickets before tea on the last day of the Third Test on Monday. pThere are likely to be two changes in the West Indies’ final 11 in an effort to put the squad at full strength. Wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs has recovered from a pulled leg muscle, an injury he sustained in the First Test and kept him sidelined in the latest two Tests.

The 35-year-old veteran, with 48 Tests under his belt, would return for the match in his native Antigua to take over from 20-year-old Carlton Baugh, who had made his international debut in Jacobs’ absence. Merv Dillon, the 32-year-old Trinidadian fast bowler who was dropped after taking only five wickets for 325 runs in the first two Tests, is expected to regain his spot and replace Tino Best. Dillon has taken 117 wickets in 32 Tests, the only West Indies bowler with over 100 wickets. Best, the 21-year-old Barbadian fast bowler, went wicketless in his debut Test here. The West Indies squad: Brian Lara (captain), Omari Banks, Carlton Baugh, Tino Best, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Merv Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Ridley Jacobs, Jermaine Lawson, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith. Manager: Ricky Skerritt. Coach: Gus Logie.