ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – West Indies opener Kieran Powell has returned to lead Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their third round match of the Regional Four-Day Championship starting today.
The left-hander missed the Hurricanes’ first two matches through West Indies duty in Bangladesh, first for the Test series and then for the One-Day International series.
In his absence, Hurricanes were led by former West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Devon Thomas, with mixed results.
They beat Barbados Pride by 34 runs in the first round at 3W’s Oval in Bridgetown before going down by nine wickets to four-time reigning champions, Guyana Jaguars, at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
Hurricanes lie third in the six-team standings on 22.2 points, behind Jaguars who lead with 37 points and Pride who are second on 22.6. Powell will be hoping to use the third round match against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Academy, to impress selectors following a disappointing recent run.
He managed just 24 runs in the two-Test series against Bangladesh and made 10 in the opening One-Day International of the subsequent three-match series before being dropped.
Powell fared little better in the foregoing series against India, scoring 106 runs in a similar two-Test series, with a highest of 83.
He will be vying for a place in the Test squad when West Indies take on touring England in a three-Test series starting in Bridgetown later this month.
SQUAD: Kieran Powell (captain), Montcin Hodge, Keacy Carty, Devon Thomas, Jahmar Hamilton, Terance Warde, Akeem Saunders, Rahkeem Cornwall, Alzarri Joseph, Nelson Bolan, Jeremiah Louis, Damion Jacobs, Sheno Berridge.