LARA
CASTRIES, St. Lucia (AP):
STAR BATSMAN Brian Lara was recalled yesterday to the West Indies squad for the first Test against Pakistan, starting at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday.
Lara, the 36-year-old left-handed veteran of 115 Tests and holder of test cricket's record score of 400 not out, was rested for the series of three one-day internationals that ended yesterday.
Pakistan beat the West Indies 2-0 in the preceding series of one-day internationals.
"There has to be a renewed approach," said Joey Carew, convener of selectors. "The return of Brian Lara adds another element to the team. He is rested and will doubtlessly return invigorated. As the senior player in the team and the leading personality in world cricket, he will also inject a deeper sense of professionalism."
The selectors also recalled left-handed opening batsman Devon Smith and fast bowlers Reon King and Fidel Edwards and included left-arm seam bowler Ian Bradshaw for the first time in a Test team.
Smith, who has had 11 Tests since his debut in 2003, was dropped after the first Test in the preceding series against South Africa. King, a 29-year-old veteran of 17 Tests, was dropped after the third. They were not used in the one-day series against Pakistan.
Bradshaw, 30, has been confined to 30 one-day internationals since making his belated debut last year at the age of 29.
King and Bradshaw are among five fast bowlers among the 13 announced by the West Indies Cricket Board. The others are Pedro Collins, his half brother Fidel Edwards and Daren Powell, all of whom played in the one-day series against Pakistan.
The second of the two Tests is at Sabina Park in Jamaica from June 3-7.
SQUAD:
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (captain), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Dwayne Bravo, Courtney Browne, Corey Collymore, Daren Powell, Reon King, Ian Bradshaw and Fidel Edwards.
