Devon Smith replaces injured Gayle in Test squad – Cottrell confirmed to join squad

St John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board Selection Panel today announced that Devon Smith has been selected to replace Christopher Gayle in the West Indies Test squad to South Africa.

 

Gayle has been replaced due to injury.

 

Smith is in fine form, coming off a first innings century against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the third round of the Professional Cricket League Regional 4 Day Tournament. Smith scored 145 of the Windward Volcanoes 308 for 5 declared in the match being played in his native Grenada.

 

He has represented the West Indies in 33 Tests since debuting in 2003 against Australia in Guyana. The pugnacious left handed opener has scored one Test century and five half centuries and averages a shade under 37 in First Class cricket.

 

Fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell will depart the Caribbean on Friday to join the Test squad in South Africa. The Selection Panel had requested that Cottrell play in the third round of the PCL 4 Day to allow the Panel an opportunity to determine his match readiness after sustaining an injury on the West Indies A Team tour to Sri Lanka.

 

Cottrell took 5 for 42 for the Jamaica Franchise against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force as the Jamaicans took first innings points.

 

The squad is as follows:

 

Denesh Ramdin – Captain

Sulieman Benn

Jermaine Blackwood

Kraigg Braithwaite

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Sheldon Cottrell

Assad Fudadin

Shannon Gabriel

Jason Holder

Leon Johnson

Kemar Roach

Marlon Samuels

Devon Smith

Jerome Taylor

Chadwick Walton

 

West Indies Tour of South Africa Schedule

December 17-21 – First Test – Super Sport Park

December 26-30 – Second Test – St George’s Park

January 2-6 – Third Test – Centurion

 

January 9 – First T20I – Newlands

January 11 – Second T20I – Wanderers

January 14 – Third T20I – Kingsmead

 

January 16 – First ODI – Kingsmead

January 18 – Second ODI – New Wanderers

January 21 – Third ODI – Buffalo Park

January 25 – Fourth ODI – St George’s

January 28 – Fifth ODI – Super Sport Park