COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – West Indies plan to include Shane Shillingford in their line-up for the second Test against Sri Lanka, starting tomorrow at the Premadasa Stadium.
West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has given the off-spinner a huge vote of confidence yesterday, and looks forward to him making an impact in the match.
“I had a very good chat with Shane, and he understands what is going on,” said Gibson, following a training session at the Singhalese Sports Club.
“We are 100 per cent behind Shane. The entire team is behind him, and he knows he has our full support. Our job is to keep Shane focussed on the upcoming match and the series.”
The International Cricket Council announced on Saturday that the bowling action of the off-spinner is now under review, after concerns from the umpires, following the first Test against Sri Lanka, which ended in a draw on Friday at the Galle International Stadium to leave the three-Test series level 0-0.
“From what we have been told, he can play, and he comes into our thinking as normal, as we look ahead to the match,” said Gibson.
“We are building towards doing well in the second Test, as we did in the first Test. As a team we are looking forward to the upcoming match.
“Shane bowled very well for us in the last Test, and he’s a key part of our bowling unit.”
Shillingford will now have to submit to an independent analysis of his bowling action, within 21 days.
If he is found to have bowled with an illegal action during the independent analysis, then he will be suspended from bowling in international cricket until he undertakes remedial action and is reassessed.
Shillingford will be permitted to continue bowling under international regulations, so he is available for the second Test starting tomorrow at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium.
But this leaves him open to being called for throwing under Law 24.2 of the game, and the consequences of the law must apply.
