THE?WEST?INDIES definitely won’t have the services of their regular captain Darren Sammy in the two-match Twenty20 International cricket series against New Zealand starting on Saturday at Eden Park.
Whereas Sammy has been ruled out of selection due to a hamstring injury which he sustained prior to the start of the third One-day International (ODI) against the New Zealanders on Boxing Day, hard-hitting Barbadian batsman Dwayne Smith has not been selected in the 15-man squad, which was officially announced Monday.
“Darren is undergoing treatment and should be fit to return to playing duties in time for the Regional Super50 Tournament which starts later this month in Trinidad,” said West Indies team physiotherapist C.J. Clark said yesterday.
Sammy will not return home immediately, but will remain in New Zealand to continue his rehabilitation under the direction of Clark.
Sammy’s place in the squad has been filled by left-arm spinner Nikita Miller while ODI captain Dwayne Bravo will lead the side in his absence.
Neither Chris Gayle nor Kieron Pollard was considered for selection to the T20 squad due to injury.
Gayle continues his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained during the tour of India last November, and Pollard continues his rehabilitation following a knee injury around the same time.
Meanwhile, Russell, who arrived in New Zealand on Monday to be part of the T20 side, along with Samuel Badree and Andre Fletcher, will be considered for selection for the final ODI against the Black Caps which starts Tuesday night (Caribbean time) at Seddon Park.
The second T20 is slated for the Westpac Stadium in Wellington next week Wednesday.
T20 Squad: Dwayne Bravo (captain), Samuel Badree, Tino Best, Johnson Charles, Narsingh Deonarine, Andre Fletcher, Jason Holder, Nikita Miller, Sunil Narine, Kieran Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Chadwick Walton.
Management team: Ottis Gibson (Head Coach), Richie Richardson (Team Operations Manager), Andre Coley (Assistant Coach), Stuart Williams (Assistant Coach), C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist), Hector Martinez Charles (Strength & Conditioning Coordinator), Richard Berridge (Video & Statistical Analyst), Virgil Browne (Massage Therapist), Adriel “Woody” Richard (Media Relations Manager). (EZS)