WI look to reverse decline

Captain Brian Lara has been put on probation after the 0-5 series defeat in South Africa. His position will be reviewed after the first two Tests in the four-match series.

Vice-captain Carl Hooper is unavailable while he tends to his sick baby son in Australia and the reliable Shivnarine Chanderpaul is injured.

On the bowling side Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, the two undisputably great players in the side, are in the twilight of their careers and nursing injuries.

West Indies have been forced to recall Sherwin Campbell, Jimmy Adams, Phil Simmons and Roland Holder to shore up the batting. Campbell and Adams have performed well in the Test arena but the choice of Simmons and Holder, who have rarely looked international class, shows the paucity of batting resources in the Caribbean.

Trinidad’s 31-year-old opener Suruj Ragoonath has been selected to partner Campbell after just two centuries in 55 first-class matches. Lincoln Roberts, another Trinidadian, earns a place after two recent big innings.

Barbadians Pedro Collins and Corey Collymore, both from the northern parish of St Peter, will back up Ambrose and Walsh in the pace department.

Selection committee chairman Michael Findlay acknowledged the problems with the batting which consistently failed against South Africa.

“The real problem in the West Indies now is our batting and we have to find the correct combination as soon as possible,” he said.

“The younger players who have not been selected should not give up because we are still looking at all of them.”

Australia, their spirits high after trouncing England yet again in an Ashes series, seem certain to play both leg-spinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill against a team historically uncertain against wrist spin.

MacGill returned career-best figures of 13 for 74 against West Indian board President’s X1 and new captain Steve Waugh confirmed he would be selected to partner vice-captain Warne.

“When a guy’s on a roll like that he’s pretty much certain to play,” Waugh said. Waugh, himself, is looking forward to the challenge of leading Australia in a Test for the first time.

“When I lead them out on that first day I’ll be a little bit nervous but excited as well,” he said. “Leading out Australia is a great honour.”

Teams

West Indies (from): Brian Lara (captain), Sherwin Campbell, Suruj Ragoonath, Jimmy Adams, Roland Holder, Dave Joseph, Lincoln Roberts, Phil Simmons, Ridley Jacobs, Curtly Ambrose, Reon King, Courtney Walsh, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon.

Australia:To be announced.