Bajan spinner Austin called

Barbadian off-spinner Ryan Austin is in the side for the third and final four-day Under-19 Test against Young England, starting today, at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, Durham.

West Indies coach Gus Logie confirmed that Austin would be drafted into the squad, as West Indies were now struggling to hold on with just 12 of the 15-member party fit to play.

The other Bajan in the touring party, Patrick Browne, has not recovered from a leg injury sustained in the first Test, and fast bowlers Andrew Richardson, of Jamaica, and Guyanese Rayon Thomas have also been ruled out with stress fractures of the back and foot, respectively.

Austin has been bowling well without much success, but he was very good in the One-Day matches. He will be looking forward to playing in the final `Test', and that will give him a very good opportunity, Logie said.

The injuries to Thomas and Richardson left the West Indies with just two fit pacers: Jermaine Lawson of Jamaica and Vincentian left-armer Kenroy Peters.

These were both rested for the three-day match against England Under-18 at Durham University, where prolific opener Devon Smith hit his second century of the tour in the drawn match. He hit 54 in the first innings.

We don't have many choices. We will have to play two spinners, come what may, and this will put us under pressure, because we're not aware of the surface we'll encounter, Logie said.

Durham is known to be a seamer-friendly pitch, and the West Indies batsmen will have to do most of the work, if they are to protect their 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

It will be up to the batsmen to perform well again, but the guys have responded well. They are very eager, and focused on the job at hand, the former West Indies vice-captain added.

Meanwhile England have strengthened their side with the inclusion of batsman Nicky Peng, and keeper Matt Prior, who were both named in an elite group of 15 of the country best Under-23 players.

The pair played in the first Test but missed the second one due to county duties.

England team: Kadeer Ali, Ian Bell, James Anderson, Justin Bishop, Kyle Hogg, Monty Panesar, Nicky Peng, Gary Pratt, Matt Prior, Joe Sayers, Bilal Shafayat, James Tredwell, Tim Boon (coach), Neil Foster (assistant coach).