Windies bring Simmons and Hinds into Second Test squad

There could be few complaints about their batting in the opening Test, but West Indies have decided to strengthen their batting reserves for the second Test against England, starting Friday in Antigua.

West Indies won the opening Test at Sabina Park by an innings and 23 runs inside four days to take a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series, but they are not taking any chances with their batting and have brought Lendl Simmons and Ryan Hinds into their 14-member squad.

Making way are out-of-form batsman Xavier Marshall and off-spin bowler Amit Jaggernauth in the squad which was chosen for the first Test with the injury to uncapped opener Dale Richards taking him out of consideration for selection.

Marshall’s place in the side was tenuous at best and a two-ball duck in front of his home crowd did not help him, while Jaggernauth did not play in the Test and returned home to play in the first-class competition over the weekend.

Simmons is the nephew of the former West Indies all-rounder and Zimbabwe coach Phil Simmons, and is no stranger to the English visitors.

They will remember him for a long time following his first-class career-best 282 in their second tour match in St. Kitts just prior to the opening Test.

Simmons is also a useful slow-medium pace bowler and can also keep wicket which he did effectively for West Indies a few years ago.

West Indies squad

Chris Gayle (captain), Lionel Baker, Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Ryan Hinds, Brendan Nash, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tuesday, AFP