WI_DROP_FOUR_24MAR1996

Sunday 24, March 1996

West Indies drop four from World Cup squad

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados. With former skipper Richie Richardson declaring himself unavailable and all-rounder Otis Gibson ruled out with a groin injury, six members of the squad which reached the World Cup semifinals earlier this month are missing from the 13- man squad announced on Friday.

The players dropped are out-of-form batsmen Sherwin Campbell and Keith Arthurton, fast bowler Cameron Cuffy and wicketkeeper Courtney Browne.

Two uncapped players, wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs and all-rounder Laurie Williams, have been brought into the squad selected for the first three of five one-day matches.

Three batsmen ignored for the World Cup, Phil Simmons, Stuart Williams and Philo Wallace have been recalled.

Jamaican Laurie Williams, a fast medium bowler, captured 20 wickets in four Red Stripe Cup matches this season at an average of 17.55 apiece.

The recall of Stuart Williams and Simmons was widely expected after both batsmen enjoyed a prolific 1996 Red Stripe cup season.

Simmons, a veteran of over 100 one-day internationals, topped the batting averages (72.62) with 581 runs. Williams hit 495 runs at an average of 61.87.

Wallace, a surprise omission from the World Cup party, has finally been given another opportunity at international level after playing 10 one-day internationals in Sharjah (1991) and Pakistan and Australia (1991-92) in the World Series Cup.

After Tuesday`s opening match in Kingston the teams move on to Port of Spain, Trinidad, for the next two matches on March 29 and 30. The fourth match is in Georgetown, Guyana, on April 3 and the final clash at St Vincent on April 6.

Squad for the first three one-day matches: Courtney Walsh (captain), Stuart Williams, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Philo Wallace, Brian Lara, Phil Simmons, Jimmy Adams, Roland Holder, Ridley Jacobs, Roger Harper, Ian Bishop, Curtly Ambrose, Laurie Williams.

Source :: Daily News (http.//www.lanka.net)