By E. Glenford Prescott
Windward Islands opener Tyrone Theophile has been named in a West Indies Cricket Board 13-man squad to oppose the touring Australians later this month at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.
Dominican Theophile is one of two openers named in the squad, which will be captained by Guyana’s Leon Johnson.
Guyana’s Rajindra Chandrika is the other opener named in the squad.
Theophile is rewarded for his most productive season to date in which he amassed 689 runs at an average of 43.06. He struck two centuries and three half centuries. His aggregate was bettered only by his opening partner Devon Smith, who totalled 822 runs at an average of 54.80.
The 25-year-old is in his fifth season as a first class cricket, having made his debut in 2010.
It was thought in Windwards and other circles that he was unlucky not to have gained a call up in the test series against England ahead of Barbados’ Shai Hope.
Hope, though, was not far behind in his performance, scoring 628 runs with two centuries, including a double century (211) against the Windwards. He also added three half centuries as well.
The other batsmen in the squad are captain Johnson who scored 465 runs @33.21; former West Indies U19 captain, Sharmarh Brooks whose two matches brought him 264 runs with two centuries @66.00; Rajindra Chandrika 525 runs @35.00 with five half centuries; Roston Chase 534 @44.50 with one century and two half centuries; and Jason Mohammed 587 runs @34.52 with two centuries and two half centuries.
Wicketkeeper, Shane Dowrich was the fifth best batsman overall with 615 runs at 51.25 with two centuries and three half centuries.
The all-rounders are vice-captain Carlos Brathwaite and legspinner Imran Khan.
Khan could comfortably claim the top all-rounder position for the season with 302 runs and 56 wickets, while Brathwaite scored 220 runs and took 19 wickets.
The bowling department will see Jamaica’s new boy Marquino Mindley who took 19 wickets @25.10 battling with Barbados’ Miguel Cummins 18 at 26.00 and Jamaica’s Jason Dawes 18 @23.66 for the new ball. Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who has St. Vincent connections, will be hoping for a chance to display the skill, which brought him 49 wicket @14.97 each during the regional season.
The match will take place from May 27 to 29.
Squad: Leon Johnson (Captain), Carlos Brathwaite (Vice Captain), Sharmarh Brooks, Rajindra Chandrika, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Jason Dawes, Shane Dowrich, Imran Khan, Marquino Mindley, Jason Mohammed, Tyrone Theophile, and Jomel Warrican.