Rookie trio named in Da Silva-led squad for SA tour

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

The inexperienced trio of Kevlon Anderson, Shamar Joseph, and Abhijai Mansingh have been granted their first international call-ups in a 14-man West Indies A squad for the tour of South Africa starting later this month.

Anderson is a 23-year-old right-hander, Joseph is a 23-year-old right-arm quick, and Abhijai Mansingh is a 26-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder. They have played only 13 first-class matches combined.

The unit, led by Test gloveman Joshua Da Silva, will face South Africa A in three four-day “Tests” from November 21 to December 8.

“Da Silva did an outstanding job as captain in the Tests in Bangladesh and he is again the captain for this tour,” chief selector Desmond Haynes said in reference to the tour of Bangladesh earlier this year.

“Anderson is a young batsman who has ​ benefitted immensely from his time in the West Indies Academy, and we saw his quality of batsmanship in the Headley-Weekes Tri Series.

“Mansingh showed quality with bat and ball in the first-class competition and gets this opportunity to showcase his skills and progress.

“Joseph is a young fast bowler who has impressed everyone with his genuine pace, his tremendous fitness, and a huge desire to gain more knowledge about the game. You can see he wants to learn and get better.”

Da Silva is one of four current Test players in the touring side, with rookie left-handed openers Kirk McKenzie and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, along with fast bowler Jayden Seales also included.

McKenzie, 23, played his only Test last July against India in the Caribbean while Chanderpaul has already struck a double-hundred in eight Tests since making his debut last November.

Seales, 22, has featured in 10 Tests after making his debut three years ago as a teenager.

Shermon Lewis, a 28-year-old who played two Tests five years ago, has also been named in the squad.

Batsman Tevin Imlach, 26, who has played 15 first-class matches, will serve as Da Silva’s deputy.

“We had a very good ‘A’ Team tour to Bangladesh earlier this year when we saw a number of players improve and grow,” Haynes continued.

“That tour was great for development in the red ball format – we saw some excellent individual performances which led to the team’s overall success.

“Now with continued investment by CWI in our players, we want to see the same kind of progress on this trip to South Africa.”

Test head coach Andre Coley will oversee the management team, with former director of cricket, Jimmy Adams, serving as assistant coach along with former Australia fast bowler Shaun Taitt.

SQUAD – Joshua Da Silva (captain), Tevin Imlach (vice-captain), Kevlon Anderson, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kavem Hodge, Akeem Jordan, Shamar Joseph, Shermon Lewis, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Kirk McKenzie, Abhijai Mansingh, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair; Andre Coley (head coach), Dwain Gill (team manager), Jimmy Adams (assistant coach), Shaun Tait (assistant coach)