Latest update November 23rd, 2024 12:15 AM
Jan 20, 2009 Sports
By Sean Devers
in Barbados
Rookie fast bowler Brandon Bess and One-Day International left-handed batman Leon Johnson are the two Guyanese named in the 12-man West Indies ‘A’ team to face England at Warner Park in St Kitts from January 29-31 in the opening match of England’s tour to the Caribbean.
The 21-year-old Bess, who made his first-class debut against Trinidad and Tobago last year has had some problems with his control in his four First-Class games so far but has impressed many around the region with his genuine pace and movement off the seam.
The West Berbice pacer was delighted with his call-up and told Kaieteur Sports yesterday that he is hoping to play in the match and do well as he has been working very hard on his fitness and bowling since his debut season last year. He has eight wickets from his four games so far with two three-wicket hauls. The 21-year-old Johnson, who made his ODI debut against Bermuda in Canada last year and scored a half-century in his three games on that tour, was a member of the West Indies squad for the two-Test series in New Zealand but was surprisingly not retained for the One-Day series.
Johnson made his first-class debut as a 16-year old in 2003 but had to wait until last year to get back into the Guyana team. He was the leading Guyanese run scorer in last year’s Carib Beer Cup with 427 runs from six matches with a highest score of 94 against the Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC) and averaged 42.7 to earn his West Indies senior team selection.
The former West Indies under-19 Skipper has so far played 11 first-class matches and good score against England in St Kitts could see him becoming Guyana’s 42nd Test player when West Indies face England in Jamaica from February 4-8 in the first Test of the four match series.
“I think I am in pretty good form but I know I need to get some big scores if I want to force my way into the Test team and a hundred against England is something I am aiming for. My dream is to play test cricket and I guess it’s up to me to make use of the opportunity to score heavily if I want to play at that level” Johnson said yesterday.
Trinidad and Tobago off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth and St Lucian all-rounder Darren Sammy are the only players in the young West Indies ‘A’ side with Test experience.
The full squad read:- Adrian Barath, Brandon Bess, Darren Bravo, Amit Jaggernauth, Leon Johnson, Nelon Pascal, Keiran Powell, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Devon Thomas, Gavin Wallace.
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