ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, CMC:
PICKING FOR the five-match, One Day International cricket series against South Africa with a number of players nursing injuries, the West Indies selection panel named Kurt Wilkinson and Ian Bradshaw as the only complete newcomers in a 15-member squad.
Wilkinson, a stylish 22-year-old batsman, and Bradshaw, a hardworking 28-year-old left-hand all-rounder, distinguished themselves with noteworthy performances in a 10-wicket win for their native Barbados over Guyana in the opening round matches of the Carib Beer 2004 Cricket Series.
Dwayne Smith, who cracked an unbeaten century in his debut Test against the South Africans at Cape Town, as well as Bradshaw and Wilkinson, are the only players not to have represented West Indies in an ODI.
Bradshaw and Wilkinson along with compatriot Ryan Hurley and the Jamaica-born Ricardo Powell, who now plays for Trinidad & Tobago in the West Indies first-class championship, will join up with the remaining members of the squad later this week.
Hurley earns a recall after playing four matches in the home series against Australia and Sri Lanka, while ODI specialist Powell comes back into the side after playing in the five matches on the preceding tour of Zimbabwe.
Squad:
Brian Lara (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-captain), Ian Bradshaw, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hurley, Ridley Jacobs, Ricardo Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Dwyane Smith, Kurt Wilkinson.
