Windies ‘A’ off to England

The team, led by middle-order batsman Sylvester Joseph and including several players with international experience, will play one-day and three-day matches against county sides, and a two-day match against the Pakistan Test side at the Denis Compton Oval, Shenley.

Manager Tony Howard said the tour was a great opportunity for players to push for places on the senior West Indies team in the lead-up to next year International Cricket World Cup (CWC).

“There is a lot of cricket between now and the World Cup and we must have some idea to see who is ready to fully step up to the highest level,” Howard said.

“The boys will have the chance to put their skills on show and I hope they do exactly that. What they are about is a long-term career choice and I hope they are focused on the tour and on the job at hand.” The West Indies will visit India for the International Cricket Council’s Champions Trophy in November and immediately after they will play three Tests and five One-Dayers in Pakistan. The Sri Lanka “A” team will tour the Caribbean in October. “We have been in touch with all the players and they have all had individual programmes to follow. When we get to England we will certainly see who have been following their programmes. “There is a lot of cricket coming up and I’m really hoping these young men will step up and are ready,” Howard said

Squad:

Sylvester Joseph (captain), Ryan Hinds (vice-captain), Devon Smith, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Runako Morton, Dwayne Smith, Lendl Simmons, Jason Mohammed, Darren Sammy, Patrick Browne, Richard Kelly, Omari Banks, Daren Powell, Tino Best, Dave Mohammed and Andrew Richardson; Tony Howard (manager), David Moore (coach), Phyllis Burnett (physio).