St John’s, Antigua – Barbadian fast bowler Kevin McClean has been named by the West Indies Selection Panel to replace his countryman Tino Best in the West Indies A squad for the First Digicel ‘Test’ against India A at Kensington Oval starting June 2.
Best was called up to the West Indies Test Squad on tour in England as replacement for injured pacer Shannon Gabriel who will return to the Caribbean.
The 24 year old McClean was one of the leading fast bowlers in the recently concluded Regional 4 Day Tournament, bagging 22 scalps from six appearances for Combined Campuses and Colleges. He registered an average of 18.68 runs per wicket this season and has 34 First Class matches under his belt since debuting in 2008. His best figures in an innings is 5 for 49 and he has a total haul of 88 First Class wickets.
The right arm quick also featured for the WICB President’s XI against Australia in the pre-Test warm up match of the Digicel Series. In that match McLean dismissed Australian captain Michael Clarke and finished with 1 for 27 in 10 overs in the first innings of a low scoring encounter. McClean, a graduate of the Sagicor High Performance Centre, had been named in the West Indies Test squad in 2009 to face Bangladesh in the Caribbean but did not play. He also toured South Africa with the West Indies for the ICC Champions Trophy that same year but again did not get the nod to make his international debut.
Established West Indies A Team Head Coach Hendy Springer will continue in the role and will once again have former Test opener Stuart Williams as his deputy. Colin Borde will manage the side.
West Indies A Squad for First Digicel ‘Test’
Veerasammy Permaul – Captain
Jason Holder – Vice Captain
Devendra Bishoo
Nkrumah Bonner
Kraigg Brathwaite
Jonathan Carter
Kyle Corbin
Delorn Johnson
Leon Johnson
Kevin McClean
Donovan Pagon
Lendl Simmons
Devon Thomas – Wicketkeeper
