Carew pep talk for Prez XI

KINGSTOWN: West Indies selector Joey Carew gave the West Indies Cricket Board’s President’s XI squad a pep talk yesterday as the Test hopefuls prepared to go into a three-day tour game against Sri Lanka today at Arnos Vale.

On the eve of the match, light rain hampered the squad’s last net session, and Carew urged the players — many of them on the fringe of Test selection — to recognise the importance of the match and the opportunity they have to press for selection. “He just had a five-minute chat with the players to psyche them up for the match,” team coach Ian Allen told CMC Sport. Allen said, in spite of the rain, the players had a lively session and are looking forward to the match. “Overall, the session was good, we had fielding and catching, the batsmen had a knock and the atmosphere is good. There are no injuries and everybody is raring to go,” Allen said.

Batsman Daren Ganga is captain of the squad and is among seven players with Test experience in the 13-man party. Opening batsman Devon Smith, wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh, batting allrounder Dave Bernard and pacer Tino Best, who made Test debuts against Australia in recent weeks, have been selected along with other Test caps, fastbowler Darren Powell and batting allrounder Ryan Hinds. The Sri Lankans, who beat the West Indies 2-1 in the One-Day International series, are preparing for the first Cable and Wireless Test match starting next week Friday in St Lucia. President’s XI squad — Daren Ganga (captain), Devon Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Narsingh Deonarine, Ryan Hinds, Aneil Kanhai, Dave Bernard, Carlton Baugh, Dave Mohammed, Darren Powell, Tino Best, Jerome Taylor, Jason Bennett.