Chanderpaul dropped from WI squad

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been left out of West Indies' 14-member squad to face Australia in the first of two Tests starting June 3. He is 87 runs short of breaking the record for most Test runs by a West Indian, but has hit a trough of poor form and both chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd and coach Phil Simmons had felt he did not have a place in their best XI.

Chanderpaul made only 92 runs at an average of 15.33 in the three Tests against England in April and May. He has had six single-digit scores and only one fifty in his last 10 innings.

Meanwhile, the uncapped duo of Shane Dowrich, who scored twin fifties against the touring Australians, and Rajindra Chandrika find a place in the team.

Dowrich, the 23-year old wicketkeeper batsman, peaked over the last two years in first-class cricket, averaging 50.18 against his overall figure of 37.46. He struck three centuries and seven fifties in that period, including a career-best unbeaten 131. Chandrika, the 25-year old batsman, averages 25 as well in first-class cricket. But his selection into the national squad comes on the back of better recent form. Apart from the 74 he hit against the Australians, he's struck four fifties this year in the Regional four-day tournament.

Opening batsman Shai Hope, who made his debut against England, retains his spot. Spinners Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul, who played only one of the three Tests of that series, have kept their places as well. The fast bowling will be headed by Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach, Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel.

West Indies squad for the first Test Denesh Ramdin (capt), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Rajindra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor