Guyanese bowlers, Nial Smith and Veerasammy Permaul are the only two locals listed among the 24 players Cricket West Indies have selected for two Best v Best matches.
The three-day matches will be played at Coolidge Cricket Ground on October 27-29 and November 1-3 ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka after the ongoing T20 World Cup.
The 32-year-old left-arm spinner Permaul, comes into the camp following an exceptional outing with the Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League while 26-year-old seamer, Smith made his debut for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the same tournament. Both will play for Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite-led Squad A.
Test vice-captain, Jermaine Blackwood will lead Squad B.
According to a release from CWI, “The team will depart from Antigua on November 6 and the tour will run until December 4. The full tour squad and schedule will be announced at a later date. The series is the second of six series, three at home and three away, that West Indies will play in the 2021-2023 ICC World Test Championship after drawing the first Betway Test Series against Pakistan in August.”
Chairman of Selectors, Roger Harper said, “These Best v Best matches are a critical part of the Test team’s preparation for the series in Sri Lanka. For a number of players, it will be the only serious red ball cricket they will have since the Betway Test series against Pakistan and prior to going on this tour. So, it helps to get them back into the groove of the red ball format and gives the Selection Panel an indication of the players’ readiness for the tour.”
