Windies bring in Ganga and Edwards for third Test

Sunday, March 28, 2004

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (AFP): The West Indies, down 2-0 in the four-match series and facing the prospect of losing a home series to England for the first time in 36 years, have refused to press the panic button for the third Test starting at Bridgetown's Kensington Oval on Thursday.

Adam Sanford has been dropped while fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who missed the last game through injury, has been recalled to a squad increased to 14 to allow Daren Ganga to come in as cover for the doubtful Devon Smith. 

West Indies trail the series 0-2 after losing the opening Test at Sabina Park by 10 wickets and the second Test at Queen's Park Oval by seven wickets.

Sanford's omission means that there is the strong possibility that the West Indies attack could comprise four Barbadian fast bowlers for the first time in two decades.

In the 1984 Test against Australia at Queen's Park Oval, the West Indies attack comprised Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Wayne Daniel and Milton Small, all Barbadians.

There is still some concern, however, that Edwards may not have fully recovered from the back injury that kept him out of the second Test and West Indies may be risking his longevity by including him.

Smith sustained a hand injury during a private practice session in his native Grenada and there is some concern about his availability too. 

Ganga, who played in the recent series against South Africa, has been drafted into the squad to provide the selection committee with another option if Smith is not passed fit.

Squad:
Brian Lara (captain), Tino Best, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ricardo Powell, Dwayne Smith.

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