Guyanese trio Keemo Paul, Shimron Hetmyer and Veerasammy Permaul have been named in a provisional Windies 30-man training squad to prepare for the upcoming three-match test tour of England, tentatively set for July.
Although the names have not been officially released by Cricket West Indies (CWI), several news agencies across the region have published the squad.
According to Trinidad Guardian, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has mandated the regional selection panel headed by former Test off-spinner Roger Harper to name a squad of 30 players from which 25 will make the tour of England, should the series come off.
Permaul will hope to make a return to the final squad after a five-year hiatus. He made his debut in 2012 against Bangladesh but has played the last of the six test matches for the West Indies against Australia in 2015.
The Guyanese left-arm spinner has had a prolific run for the Guyana Jaguars side during the regional four day championship, snaring 183 wickets over the last four seasons, prompting calls for his return.
There were no surprises as it regarded the inclusion of the other two Guyanese – Paul and Hetmyer – who have been in and around the test side latterly. However, one may find it odd that wicketkeeper/ batsman Anthony Bramble has once again been snubbed.
It now appears that he has fallen down the pecking-order behind first choice wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich, Jahmar Hamilton and new boy Joshua DaSilva.
Bramble scored 1,862 runs over the last four seasons for Jaguars and has been the most successful wicketkeeper in the region, gloving 156 dismals during the same period and will be disappointed not to have found a place in a 30-man squad.
The tour, if it goes ahead, will be done under strict health recommendations due to the novel coronavirus. It is expected to establish a standard for future international cricket action during the ongoing pandemic.
Matches will be playing behind closed doors at “bio-secure” venues like Manchester, Southampton, and Headingley which boast hotels on location where only players and officials the only ones interaction with each other.
Windies provisional squad: John Campbell (Jamaica), Jermaine Blackwood (Jamaica), Nkrumah Bonner (Jamaica), Paul Palmer Jr (Jamaica), Marquino Mindley (Jamaica), Daren Bravo (T&T), Joshua da Silva (T&T), Anderson Phillip (T&T), Shannon Gabriel (T&T), Sunil Ambris (Windwards), Preston McSween (Windwards), Alzarri Joseph (Leewards), Jahmar Hamilton (Leewards), Rahkeem Cornwall (Leewards), Shimron Hetmyer (Guyana), Veerasammy Permaul (Guyana), Keemo Paul (Guyana), Jason Holder (Barbados), Kraigg Brathwaite (Barbados), Shayne Mosely (Barbados), Kemar Roach (Barbados), Chemar Holder (Barbados), Keon Harding (Barbados), Shane Dowrich (Barbados), Shai Hope (Barbados), Kyle Mayers (Barbados), Roston Chase (Barbados), Shamarh Brooks (Barbados), Jomel Warrican (Barbados)
