Scorpions captain Campbell back in West Indies Test squad

JAMAICA SCORPIONS captain John Campbell will get another chance at international cricket as the left-hander has been selected in a 13-man squad to face England in the first Test of a series set to bowl off on March 8 in Antigua.

Campbell will be joined in the Kraigg Brathwaite-led squad by two other Jamaicans, vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood and Nkrumah Bonner.

A timely century against Barbados in the second round of the West Indies Championship may just have given Campbell the nod for the opening slot, with Trinidadian Jeremy Solozano missing out, despite recovering from a blow to the head while fielding in the first Test against Sri Lanka late last year.

For lead selector, Desmond Haynes, bringing Campbell back to partner Brathwaite was down to a conversation he had with the captain.

“We have stuck with Campbell, not only because of his hundred against Barbados, but having talked to the captain he felt that batting with Campbell in the past had brought a bit of success and we felt we would stick with that,” said Haynes.

TORRID TIME

The West Indies have had a torrid time in solidifying the opening position at the Test level, with Campbell, Kieran Powell, and Solozano all used to partner Brathwaite in the recent series.

For Haynes, the aim is to get the right combination that will bear fruit over the long term.

“The opening situation is something we want to resolve rather shortly. In all good teams, they have good opening batsmen, so we are looking to get our openers with some confidence and ensure they can do the job for us,” added Haynes.

Haynes made it clear that he and fellow selector Ramnaresh Sarwan will be rewarding performances, and players are being urged to stand up and make their mark in the ongoing West Indies Championship.

One player who has benefited from this approach is Trinidadian fast bowler Anderson Phillip, who has been named in the West Indies squad to face England.

Phillip has a championship-leading 12 wickets in two games, and these are some of the performances Haynes says will catch the selectors’ eyes when picking West Indies teams.

“It’s important for these guys when they’re playing in the domestic season to do well, to catch our eye. We’re a new panel, Sars (Sarwan), Tony Grey and myself, and we want to see the players and make sure that when we’re judging them on their ability, they’ve got some runs as well, but also, they can play a role that we want them to play.

Missing from this squad are spinners Rahkeem Cornwall and Jomel Warrican, batsman Shai Hope, all-rounder Roston Chase and fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, who has been ruled out through injury.

In the meantime, wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich has been named as captain of the CWI President’s XI down to face England in a four-day warm-up game starting March 1.

West Indies squad for the first Test: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales.