Samuels drafted for third Test

WEST INDIES selectors have ignored captain Brian Lara's pleas for extra pace and have named the same seam bowling attack for the third Digicel Test against India starting next Thursday at Warner Park in St. Kitts.

In the 13-man squad named yesterday by the West Indies Cricket Board, selectors made just one change to the squad for the drawn second Test in St. Lucia this week, replacing left-arm spinner, Dave Mohammed with batsman Marlon Samuels.

It means the West Indies will have to rely on the seam attack of Ian Bradshaw, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore and Jerome Taylor.

After West Indies batted through the last day to draw the second Test at Beausejour Ground on Wednesday, Lara called on selectors to include a genuinely fast bowler so as to unsettle the Indian batsmen.

He hinted at Barbados fast bowler, Tino Best and Jamaican speedster, Jermaine Lawson, but both players have been overlooked.

Best last played for the West Indies against Sri Lanka last July, while Lawson has not played since last November when he faced Australia in the series Down Under.

The struggling Daren Ganga has maintained his place despite scores of 9, 36, 16 and 26, while there is still no place for left-handed opener, Devon Smith.

SQUAD: Brian Lara (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice captain), Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Runako Morton, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Ian Bradshaw, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Jerome Taylor.