WI Domestic: Austin called up

In an expected move, the Barbados selectors have chosen teenager Ryan Austin for the second-round Busta Cup cricket match against Jamaica, starting tomorrow at Kensington Oval.

The selectors have also included West Indies wicket-keeper Courtney Browne, who returned from Australia from the West Indies' ill-fated tour on Tuesday night. Browne, who was excused from yesterday's training session at Queen's Park, the City, is expected to be in the nets today.

He will replace Corey Glasgow, who was generally adequate in the opening match, but will have to make way for the more experinced former Barbados captain.

Austin, 19, an accurate off-spinner, comes in for Shirley Clarke as Barbados seeks a more penetrative attack against joint tournament leaders Jamaica, who had a first-round win over the Windward Islands in Kingston.

Austin, who was excluded from a final 16 the seclectors had shortlisted after two trial matches last year, has been drafted in - a clear sign that the selectors believe his spin can do the job.

In Barbados' first match, they surrendered first innings lead to Guyana after making 422. Added to that, Windwards off-spinner Shane Shillingford had a seven-wicket haul to expose Jamaica's frailty against the turning ball.

Austin will become only the second player of Indian descent to represent Barbados in a regional tournament.

"I'm very pleased at the chance, and excited about playing for Barbados," he told Nationsport from his Ruby Park, St. Philip, home last night.

"I worked very hard at my game last year, and I can say I've come a long way to get this opportunity. "I think I can handle the big time, because I watch the game closely, and learn from that," Austin said. "I'm always ready to listen to the older players, and I like asking them questions about the game." Born in Trinidad to Trinidadian parents, Austin has been very successful at the Under-19 level and also had an excellent season for ESA Field Pickwick.

The team: Ian Bradshaw (captain), Philo Wallace, Adrian Griffith, Ryan Hinds, Floyd Reifer, Roland Holder, Courtney Browne, Hendy Bryan, Dave Marshall, Corey Collymore, Ryan Austin, Dayne Maynard and Sean Armstrong.