WI may field two specialist bowlers

The West Indies are tipped to continue their inexplicable selection policy and head into the 1st NPower Test, against England at Lord's, with just two specialist pace bowlers. At the pre-match press conference, Brian Lara stated:

"We've got genuine fast bowlers, but we've also got a couple medium-fast bowlers who have been doing very well in the limited-overs series and in the first-class matches. Dwayne Smith and Dwayne Bravo have been doing very well. We have a lot of options, but the team that takes the field has got to be able to do the job."

The implication is that Dwayne Smith will play alongside almost certain debutant, Dwayne Bravo. Both are allrounders of sorts, the former being more of a batsman who bowls medium pace. Omari Banks' recent batting and bowling form should earn him the spot as the fourth bowler with his offspin.

The West Indies camp is under a lot of pressure heading into the series. Not only do they have the hopes of the entire Caribbean that they avenge the 3-0 defeat imposed at home earlier this year, but the bowling has not consistently performed on tour as yet. Added to that, the West Indies have not beaten England at Lord's in 16 years.

Fidel Edwards returned to the squad following his withdrawal before the Natwest series due injury and has since struggled to find any form, getting hammered by Sri Lanka 'A' and the MCC. Ravi Rampaul is currently injured and thus unavailable for consideration.

That leaves three fit seam options - Pedro Collins, Tino Best and Jermaine Lawson. The former two are all but certainties to play tomorrow given their impressive bowling form this season, but Lawson is still building his way back to match fitness and looked rusty in his last Test appearances, against Bangladesh in the Caribbean this year.

While the bowling poses many concerns, the batting appears to be in good shape with Chanderpaul, Lara, Devon Smith, Bravo, Joseph and Jacobs all getting centuries in the last two practice games. Chris Gayle scored a half-century against the MCC.

[B]West Indies squad:[/B] BC Lara (C), RR Sarwan (vc), RD Jacobs (wk), CS Baugh (wk), CH Gayle, DS Smith, DR Smith, OAC Banks, TL Best, FH Edwards, PT Collins, R Rampaul, S Chanderpaul, SC Joseph, DJJ Bravo, JJC Lawson.

Posted by Liam