Ramdin, Samuels return for England tour

CRICKET: ST JOHN'S, April 28 (AFP) - West Indies recalled wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin and big-hitting batsman Marlon Samuels for their three-Test tour of England next month while also summoning uncapped paceman Shannon Gabriel.

Ramdin replaces Carlton Baugh while Samuels has returned from a stint in the Indian Premier League to take over from opener Kraigg Brathwaite.

Both Baugh and Brathwaite featured in the three-Test series against Australia which finished on Friday.

"We are going to England early in the season, where the conditions tend to favour the quick bowlers more than the spinners," said Clyde Butts, the chairman of the West Indies selectors.

"Young Gabriel continues to impress the selectors in both regional and A-Team cricket, and we feel it is a good time to introduce him. We feel he will be an asset to the team in England and has a bright future in West Indies cricket."

Off-spinner Shane Shillingford, who became the first West Indian spinner since Lance Gibbs in 1966 to claim a 10-wicket match haul in the third Test against Australia, keeps his place in the squad. "Shillingford has bowled very well against the Australians and we expect a lot from him in England," added Butts, after Australia won the thid Test in Dominica on Friday to clinch a 2-0 series win.

"We have got to continue to build for the future and we believe that Barath and Powell have bright futures in the game.

"We also feel this way about Kraigg Brathwaite, but he too, has lost some of his conviction and the selectors also feel playing him in the A-Team against India-A will give him the chance to regain that confidence."

Samuels gets a place despite missing the Australian series to play in the IPL where controversial teammate, and former West Indies skipper, Chris Gayle is still involved.

West Indies 15-man squad for England tour:

Darren Sammy (captain), Kirk Edwards (vice-captain), Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Fidel Edwards, Assad Fudadin, Shannon Gabriel, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Marlon Samuels, Shane Shillingford

Schedule

May 5-7: Sussex v West Indies - Hove

10-13: England Lions v West Indies - Northampton

17-21: 1st Test - Lord's

25-29: 2nd Test - Trent Bridge

June 2-3: Leicestershire v West Indies - Grace Road

7-11: 3rd Test - Edgbaston

13: Middlesex v West Indies - Lord's

16: 1st One-day International - The Rose Bowl

19: 2nd One-day International - The Oval

22: 3rd One-day International - Leeds

24: Twenty20 International - Nottingham.

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