GEORGETOWN (CMC):

Guyana's selectors Thursday named four newcomers in a 14-man squad for Guyana's first three away matches in the regional first-class season, with Narsingh Deonarine being installed as the new captain.

Under-19 left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, the leading wicket-taker in this year's regional youth series, leads the quartet of new faces, and is joined by batsman Deon Ferrier, batting all-rounder Royston Crandon and 19-year-old fast bowler Jeremy Gordon, considered by many the quickest bowler in the country.

The 23-year-old Deonarine, who made his Test debut last year against South Africa and has since played four Tests, has been appointed captain in the absence of Guyana's two most celebrated current players.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, a veteran of 100 Tests, and West Indies vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan are both injured. The experienced West Indies A team opener Sewnarine Chattergoon has also been sidelined with an injury.

West Indies A team middle-order batsman Travis Dowlin is Deonarine's deputy.

Long-serving 34-year-old left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell was not selected after making himself available as the selectors opted for Permaul's youth.

In contrast, leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo, the leading wicket-taker in regional first-class cricket, and former Test pacer Reon King, both 31, have been retained.

King led Guyana against Barbados in this year's Carib Beer semi-final when Chanderpaul and Sarwan were unavailable.

There was no room, however, for national Under-19 skipper Steven Jacobs or West Indies Under-19 left-hander, Gajanand Singh.

Jacobs made his first-class debut this year while Singh scored the most runs in the Under-19 competition including two centuries and was named Guyana's Junior Cricketer of the Year.

Guyana are the defending regional one-day champions and last won a regional first-class title in 2002. They open their campaign against the Windward Islands in Grenada starting January 4 before clashing with Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.

SQUAD: Narsingh Deonarine (captain), Travis Dowlin (vice-captain), Krishna Arjune, Azeemul Haniff, Assad Fudadin, Deon Ferrier, Derwin Christian, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Imran Jafferally, Veersammy Permaul, Jeremy Gordon Reon King, Esuan Crandon, Royston Crandon. Standbys: Homchand Pooran, Leon Johnson, Steven Jacobs, Gajanand Singh, Maxwell Georgeson, Trevon Garraway, Rayon Griffith, Krishna Deosarran.