West Indies Test squad for Sri Lanka… Holder replaces Ramdin as Captain; Bishoo and Chandrika included

Sep 05, 2015 Sports

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St. John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board announced yesterday a 15-member Test squad for the Tour of Sri Lanka next month.
Squad: Jason Holder (Captain), Kraigg Brathwaite (Vice Captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Rajindra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Jomel Warrican.
Team Management Unit: Phil Simmons (Head Coach), Sir Richie Richardson (Team Operations Manager), Stuart Williams (Assistant Coach), Sir Curtly Ambrose (Assistant Coach), Andre Coley (Assistant Coach), C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist), Richard Berridge (Performance Analyst), Virgil Browne (Massage Therapist), Philip Spooner (Media Relations Manager).
Notes: The WICB has announced that Jason Holder will be the new captain of the West Indies Test team. He replaces Denesh Ramdin. The appointment was recommended by the WICB Selection Panel and endorsed unanimously by the Directors during a teleconference meeting on Wednesday.
Head WICB selector Clive Lloyd said Holder’s appointment was made with an eye to the future.
“He is a young man that all of the selectors, people in the Caribbean and worldwide believe has several of the qualities that can take our team forward,” said Lloyd.
“We felt the time was right for a change and we feel he will do as well as he did when he was elevated to the position of One-day International captain ahead of the World Cup.
Lloyd added: “We had a number of detractors when he was appointed ODI captain, but he showed during the ODI series in South Africa and the World Cup that he had the qualities that were needed to take our team forward.
“We expect to get new thinking and new dynamism from him. Jason commands respect. He is a fine young man, very intelligent and he seems to get the best from the players because he is a straightforward guy. I think the players will warm to him. He has a young bunch of players and we feel he can guide them in the manner that is required for internationals.”
The 23-year-old Holder also currently holds the position of captain of the West Indies One-day International team. He has appeared in eight Tests, following his debut against New Zealand last June in his native Barbados.
Lloyd said though he felt Holder had the ability to lead West Indies in all three formats, the selectors had no immediate intentions of making him Twenty20 captain right now. “We do not want any captain to lead in all three formats just now,” said Lloyd. “It would be quite burdensome on anyone. We think we can have a separate Twenty20 captain.”
Lloyd thanked Ramdin for leading the Test side and said the wicketkeeper/batsman was still had a important part to play in the success of the team. “I have spoken to Denesh and he understood the situation and there was no animosity,” said Lloyd. “We just want him to perform a little bit better right now, particularly with the bat, and give of his best and support the new captain.”
Commenting on the announcement, WICB President Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron said: “The Directors discussed the recommendation put forward by the selectors. We have all seen Jason’s clear leadership potential and believe he can perform an excellent job for West Indies cricket over many years. We congratulate him on his appointment.
“We would like to thank Denesh for taking on the responsibility of leading the Test side over the last 15 months. He remains an integral part of West Indies cricket and will continue to have a vital role in our Test side.” Holder is out of the Caribbean on personal business and will comment on his elevation to the position when he returns.
The squad includes uncapped left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, the only newcomer to the international scene, and uncapped fast bowler Carlos Brathwaite, who has made appearances for the Caribbean side previously in One-day Internationals.
The players will be encamped in Barbados from September 20 for a period of eight days and are scheduled to arrive in the Sri Lanka capital of Colombo on October 1.
MATCH SCHEDULE
October
Sun 4 to Mon 5         Tour Match – To be confirmed
Thu 8 to Sat 10         Tour Match – To be confirmed
Wed 14 to Sun 18     1st Test – International Cricket Stadium, Galle
Thu 22 to Mon 26    2nd Test – Singhalese Sports Club, Colombo
Thu 29   Tour Match – To be confirmed
Sat 31 1st One-day International – Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (day/night)
November
Wed 4                         2nd One-day International – Rajapaksa Stadium, Hambantota (day/night)
Sat 7                           3rd One-day International – Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (day/night)
Tue 10  1st Twenty20 International – International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
Thu 12 1st Twenty20 International – International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele (WICB)

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