Simmons included in Windies Test squad

Lendl Simmons, the Trinidad opening batsman, is the only new face in West Indies's 15-member Test squad for the tour of Pakistan beginning next month.

Omari Banks, the offspinner who last played a Test during the tour of Sri Lanka over a year ago, has been recalled. He is the second spinner in the squad, along with Dave Mohammed.

The selectors, however, ignored the Jamaican pair of Marlon Samuels and Wavell Hinds, two batsmen who were woefully out of touch in the DLF Cup tri-series in Kuala Lumpur recently. Notable exclusions among the bowlers include fast bowlers Ian Bradshaw and Pedro Collins.

Corey Collymore, who sustained a thigh injury in Kuala Lumpur, has also been included after Bennett King, the West Indies coach, recently stated that he would recover in time for the Champions Trophy beginning later this week. Fast bowler Daren Powell makes a return, after missing the home series against India and Zimbabwe.

The selection of Simmons - nephew of former Test cricketer Phil Simmons - was expected after a productive domestic season. In the Carib Beer Cup, Simmons finished the second-highest run-getter for Trinidad, scoring 398 runs in seven matches. He has passed steadily through the ranks in the West Indies Under-19 World Cup team in New Zealand in 2002, the A teams to England in 2002 and earlier this year and at home against England in February and March.

"This season I wasn't so surprised after my performance on the A team tour (to England)," Simmons told the Trinidad and Tobago Express, "So I had an idea that sooner or later the opportunity would arise to play and I am just looking forward to playing."

An excellent fielder and an occasional wicketkeeper to boot, Simmons said he was ready for the next step, though he acknowledged that he may well have to compete with Daren Ganga and Chris Gayle for the favoured opening slot. In England, Simmons hit an unbeaten 108 off 122 balls in a one-dayer against the touring Pakistan side.

"It's not that difficult. It's just about adjusting to the conditions and how fast you settle in. It's a good challenge.and I'm looking forward to it. I opened against them (Pakistan) on the England tour recently so I basically have an idea of what to expect against them."

The squad for the five-match one-day series which follows the Tests will be selected later.

Squad: Brian Lara (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Lendl Simmons, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Runako Morton, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Daren Powell, Jerome Taylor, Omari Banks, Dave Mohammed