Shannon Gabriel earns Windies recall

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

VETERAN SPEEDSTER Shannon Gabriel has been recalled for next month’s tour of Zimbabwe, after being named in a 15-man squad announced yesterday by Cricket West Indies.

The 34-year-old, once the spearhead of the Caribbean side’s attack, has not featured in a Test for 15 months due to injury and loss of form but now returns alongside former new-ball partner Kemar Roach who will lead the bowling group.

Gabriel turned out for his native Trinidad and Tobago Red Force last year, struggling in the first class campaign with a single wicket from four matches but excelling in the Super50 Cup with 15 wickets from seven outings.

His presence will be critical for West Indies as highly regarded 21-year-old seamer Jayden Seales has been ruled out of the upcoming tour after undergoing knee surgery while fellow Trinidadian Anderson Phillip, 26, has also been sidelined with injury.

“With our fast bowlers, Seales has done extremely well for us since he started back in 2021, but with him unavailable we have decided that Gabriel would be best able to fill that role,” said chief selector, the Most Honourable Desmond Haynes.

“He is an experienced bowler who has been at the international level for over 10 years and has knowledge of the conditions in Zimbabwe when we won there in 2017.”

Gabriel has taken 161 wickets from 56 Tests.

Left-arm spinners Jomel Warrican and Gudakesh Motie have also earned recalls. Warrican, too, played his last Test 15 months ago but led Barbados Pride’s attack in last year’s first class championship with 13 wickets at 25 runs apiece.

The 27-year-old Motie, meanwhile, made his Test debut last June against Bangladesh but has not played since.

“We looked at the conditions we anticipate playing in, and have included two left-arm spinners who didn’t go to Australia in Motie and Warrican,” said Haynes.

Captain Kraigg Brathwaite leads a side that includes the impressive left-handed opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul who shone on the recent tour of Australia by averaging 40.

Selectors have kept faith with all-rounder Raymon Reifer even though he failed to feature on the tour of Australia after picking up a groin injury, while batsman Devon Thomas – who made his Test debut Down Under – has also been retained.

However, stylish right-hander Shamarh Brooks has paid the price for 52 runs from four innings in Australia, and has been dropped.

West Indies face Zimbabwe in the opening Test starting February 4 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, and return to the same venue for the second Test bowling off February 12.

“This is the start of the international calendar for 2023 and we will hope to start with a win,” Haynes said.

“We appreciate it won’t be [an] easy assignment as Zimbabwe, like most other teams in world cricket, play very well on their home soil on pitches that will support their style of play.”

West Indies have won all their five Test series against the African nation.

SQUAD – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Tagnarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Devon Thomas, Jomel Warrican.