Bravo returns to Windies T20 squad

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Left-hander Darren Bravo is poised to make a return to West Indies colours for the first time in two years after being named in a revamped 15-man Twenty20 squad for the three-match tour of India next month.

The 29-year-old is one of eight changes to the Carlos Brathwaite-led squad, which went under to Bangladesh in a three-match series in the Caribbean and United States earlier in August.

Significantly, the touring party includes five debutants, with exciting all-rounders Fabian Allen and Sherfane Rutherford, fast bowlers Obed McCoy and Oshane Thomas, along with left-arm spinner Khary Pierre all being called up.

T20 veteran Kieron Pollard makes his return to the squad for the first time in 15 months, while firebrand left-hander Shimron Hetmyer has been restored to the side after playing two matches on the tour of New Zealand last January.

However, Bravo's selection is the most notable, especially since his public falling-out with Cricket West Indies president Dave Cameron in November 2016, which led to his subsequent exile from all formats of the game.

In his time away from West Indies cricket, Bravo plied his trade on the lucrative global T20 circuit and, this year, gathered 353 runs for champions Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League.

In a statement, chief selector Courtney Browne said that he welcomed the return of both Bravo and Pollard to international cricket.

"With the 2020 ICC World T20 two years away and the limited number of T20 Internationals within the next year, the panel believes at this juncture it is time to invest in the young players that have emerged over the last two years from Windies A and B teams, along with 2018 CPL," he said.

IMPROVING FIELDING

"The panel believes that this new group of cricketers, in addition to their cricketing skills, will have the athleticism needed to improve our fielding, which will be vital to our success. The selection of a young group two years prior to the World T20 gives the coaching staff time to help them with their skills and for the team to develop into a cohesive and competitive unit.

"The team will continue to retain some experienced players, who will work alongside the younger group."

Notably, leg-spinner Samuel Badree, once the world's leading T20 bowler, has been dropped along with Andre Fletcher, Chadwick Walton, Marlon Samuels, Sheldon Cottrell, and Kesrick Williams.

Samuels, however, will feature in the 15-man one-day side led by regular skipper Jason Holder, which sees Allen, Thomas, and left-hander Chandrapaul Hemraj as the uncapped players getting the nod.

SQUADS:

ODI - Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Oshane Thomas.

T20I - Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Oshane Thomas.