THE West Indies selectors have named a 13-man squad to play England in the only T20 scheduled to take place on September 16 in Chester-le-Street, before a five-match ODI series starts on September 19 at Old Trafford.
Making a comeback into the West Indies T20 squad after more than two years out of the side is off-spinner Ashley Nurse. The 28-year-old last played a T20 International in January 2015, but has been picked for the one-off game against England later this month, in place of legspinner Samuel Badree, who was unavailable due to a prior commitment.
West Indies retained the other 12 players that featured in the squad for the home T20I against India in July.
The squad reads: Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Ronsford Beaton, Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton (wicketkeeper) and Kesrick Williams.
Nurse has so far gone wicketless in the four T20 Internationals he has played since his debut in April 2011 but has been one of the main bowlers for Barbados in List A matches. He was the leading wicket-taker in their domestic 50-over competition last season. Recently, however, he hasn’t been as impressive, going wicketless for Trinbago Knight Riders in the two CPL matches he has played.
“We have a good mix of experience and youth that should adapt to English conditions quickly,” chairman of selectors, Courtney Browne, said. “Coming off the series win against India in the Caribbean in July, our expectations are to see the team play a highly competitive game and bring that T20 Caribbean atmosphere to England.”
The experience Browne talks about includes the likes of Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Marlon Samuels and Jerome Taylor. Leading the younger players is opening batsman Evin Lewis, who scored a 53-ball hundred against India less than two months ago.