Ganga out Windies one-day squad

ST. JOHN’S: In form Trinidad and Tobago batsman Daren Ganga has been dropped from the West Indies squad for the upcoming seven One-Day Internationals against the Australian cricketers.

Ganga, the TT captain, has hit two centuries so far in the current four-Test Cable and Wireless series, but there is no room for him on the regional side for the shortened version of the game. Instead, off-spinning all-rounder Ryan Hurley gained his first international call-up when he was named yesterday to the West Indies squad. Joining him on the 15-member squad will be Devon Smith, David Bernard, Omari Banks and Ricardo Powell. Smith, Bernard and Banks made international debuts during the current Test series against Australia and are being given their first chance at the one-day level.

The series begins in Jamaica on May 17. Hurley enjoyed a prolific 2003 Carib Beer Series for the champion Barbados team. The 27-year-old scored 337 runs and 18 wickets in nine matches. Opening batsman Smith, all-rounder Bernard and fast bowler Best are all 21. Banks, the first player from the small Leeward island of Anguilla to represent the West Indies, is just 20. Captain and star batsman Brian Lara has said his players, the youngest ever fielded by the West Indies with an average age just under 25, have been batting well but need to improve their bowling. Hurley’s Barbadian teammate Corey Collymore, the one-day specialist, was chosen among five fast bowlers. The 25-year-old Collymore joins Test pacers Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Jermaine Lawson and Best. Experienced 35-year-old wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs was picked ahead of 20-year-old Carlton Baugh, who replaced the injured Jacobs during the Test series. Opening batsman Chris Gayle, who missed the first two Tests, also was selected.

West Indies Squad: Brian Lara (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-captain), Omari Banks, Tino Best, David Bernard, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hurley, Ridley Jacobs, Jermaine Lawson, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith. Manager: Ricky Skerritt.
Coach: Gus Logie.