ANTIGUA- Veerasammy Permaul, the Guyana left-arm spinner, will lead a number of youngsters on the WICB President's XI against the New Zealanders in the three-day tour match beginning today, in Antigua. It represents a chance for the players, most of whom played on the West Indies 'A' in their recent home series against India 'A', to address the regional selectors with the Test series ahead. Fast bowlers Delorn Johnson and Kevin McClean, will be out to prove that their success against India 'A' was no fluke and force their way into the top flight. Johnson was the leading wicket-taker in the unofficial Tests against India 'A', with 17 at 13.29 in three matches.
McClean came in for the final unofficial Test and claimed a five-wicket haul in the victory. Permaul himself was quite a handful against the spin proficient Indians and would want to impress against the Kiwis, who are not so well equipped against the slow stuff. Also included in the squad are Test players Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Adrian Barath, Narsingh Deonarine, Kirk Edwards, Assad Fudadin, Kemar Roach and Shane Shillingford. Chanderpaul will be out to have a sighting against the New Zealand bowlers having not featured in the T20 and one day international series. Edwards had a miserable time in England and would want to get a big score to get back into the Test squad. Deonarine and Fudadin get a chance to keep their names uppermost in the minds of the selectors, as they both played Test match cricket this year without grabbing the headlines.
Meanwhile, the Black Caps will be joined by veterans Daniel Vettori (who has featured in 111 Tests, with 359 wickets to his credit) and Chris Martin (68 Tests with 226 scalps). Experienced first-class wicketkeeper batsman Kruger van Wyk is also among the new additions, while Neil Wagner is likely to make his debut. Wicketkeeper BJ Watling, who suffered a quad strain during the ODIs, will also be rejoining the team. In addition to the experienced cricketers who will be enhancing the squad, the Black Caps will also have the chance to grow accustomed to the pitch and receive match practice ahead of the first Test will be played, at the same venue, from Wednesday to Sunday.
Teams:
WICB President's XI squad: Veerasammy Permaul (capt), Adrian Barath, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Kirk Edwards, Assad Fudadin, Delorn Johnson, Kevin McClean, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Shane Shillingford, Devon Thomas (wk).
New Zealand: Daniel Flynn, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor (capt), Kane Williamson, Dean Brownlie, BJ Watling (wk), Kruger van Wyk (wk), Daniel Vettori, Tarun Nethula, Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner, Mark Gillespie, Chris Martin.
