Sarwan axed

Oct 18, 2010 Sports

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Sammy replaces Gayle as captain for Sri Lanka tour

By Sean Devers in Jamaica
Elegant middle order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan has not been selected for next month’s West Indies tour to Sri Lanka and Chairman of the WICB selectors explained that the injury record and fitness problems of his fellow Guyanese was a main reason for his omission from the 15-man squad which will be Captained by St Lucian Daren Sammy.

While Brendon Nash has been named as Vice-Captain for the Test series alone, Sammy who leads the Windward’s in regional cricket has been appointed Test and One-Day skipper for the tour which starts with a three-Test series from November 15.
Butts said yesterday that it was felt by the selectors and the WICB Directors that Sammy’s attitude and leadership skills recommended him for the position as he takes over from Chris Gayle to start ‘a new phase in West Indies cricket’.
Gayle, who turned down a WICB central contract last month, has been selected in the squad as is Dwayne Bravo, who has been relieved of his Vice-Captaincy duties after also opting not to sign his contact.
Jamaica and West Indies ‘A’ team pacer Andre Russell could make his senior team debut while Carlton Baugh get another chance to revive his International career after a 6-year absence at the expense of Denesh Ramdin, who was also not offered a central contract.
Young Antiguan Keeper Devon Thomas has also been selected and Butts informed that the One-Day side will be named at the end of the Regional 50-over series presently being played in Jamaica. Grenadian Devon Smith who averaged 61.50 while leading West Indies ‘A’ in England earlier in the year has also been given another opportunity.
Butts, a former West Indies off-spinner said that as far as he knew there was no problem with the tour contracts and felt the team was a balanced one which he expects to be competitive in Sri Lanka.
“Sri Lanka is always tough at home and we have got some young players in as we start a new phase in West Indies cricket. I know many feel it will be hard to beat Sri Lanka but if we can start drawing matches….taking the games into five days …I think that would be a good start to getting back to where we were once as a cricketing nation,” Butts said.

The selector said Sarwan’s batting talent is not an issue but his frequent injuries and is hoping that the 30 year old with an average of 41.71 from 83 Tests and a ODI average of 43.94 from 156 games can get as much cricket as possible and prove his fitness in the four-day competition next year before he returns to the team.
“Everyone knows Sarwan is a quality batsman but injury has robbed the team of his ability quite often and the last time he was injured and rested when he came back he got injured again. We want to see him in some more regional matches before he is selected for international tours,” Butts said.
Even if the Guyana Captain, who made a Man-of-the-Match 63 in Guyana’s first match on Friday makes huge scores in the remainder of the regional One-Day competition he is unlikely to gain selection on the One-Day team if fitness is indeed the main reason for his Test squad omission.
Sarwan, who has been a Test player for a decade now since making his debut against Pakistan in Barbados, was not among those give a central contract by the WICB this year and some feel his very public contract snub might have contributed to his omission for the Sri Lanka tour.
It is also felt that Gayle’s refusal to sign his contract played a part in him being replaced as Skipper. Sammy has not been a regular member of the Test side and it was felt that he would have been named One-Day skipper and Gayle retained as Test Captain. But Sammy’s commitment to West Indies cricket and the decision of Gayle to not make himself contractually available for West Indies for the contract period could have influenced the decision to hand Sammy and Nash the leadership responsibilities.
“Being appointed West Indies captain is an honour and distinction which I will treat with the highest regard and dignity,” Sammy said. “I believe my captaincy of the Windward Islands, a young team which I have been moulding into playing consistently competitive cricket, will stand me in good stead as West Indies captain as we work on building a team for the future.
“I have always given my all when I prepare and play for the West Indies and nothing will change now. I know this will be a difficult challenge and I will take the torch from Chris and hold it high as we forge ahead.  “I have been playing for the West Indies since 2004 and over those six years I have built strong relationships with many players and I expect to have the full support of the squad,” Sammy noted.
“Chris Gayle, the former captain, led the West Indies during a challenging period and the Board thanks him for stepping up then but it is now time to past the mantle on as the West Indies rebuilds,” said WICB’s CEO, Ernest Hilaire.
Adrian Barath who made a debut century against Australia last year, returns after a knee injury made him unavailable for the last home series against South Africa.
It was disclosed that Sammy will hold his first press conference as Skipper on Wednesday in Jamaica while the dates for the pre-tour camp and the departure of the team should be revealed then.
West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Brendan Nash (vice-captain), Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh (wk), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas (wk).

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