ST JOHN’S – Left-hander Leon Johnson is poised to play his first One-Day International in six years after being named in a 15-man West Indies squad for the one-day tour of India starting next month.
The 27-year-old Johnson is joined by fast bowler Jerome Taylor who has also been recalled after last playing an ODI four years ago.
Dwayne Bravo will captain the squad which will face India in five ODIs from October 8 to 20.
Johnson, on the fringe of selection for some time, made an impressive Test debut in the final match of the two-Test series against Bangladesh which ended earlier this month, gathering scores of 66 and 41.
He last played for West Indies in an ODI in a tri-nation tournament in Canada back in 2008 which involved Bermuda.
Taylor’s call-up, meanwhile, comes against the backdrop of his return to the Test arena against New Zealand in June, following a protracted break because of injury and loss of form.
The right-armer has already played 66 ODIs and taken 98 wickets.
Fellow Jamaican Marlon Samuels has earned a recall after being dropped for the Bangladesh series. The right-handed Samuels’ form has waned in Tests but averages over 50 in his last eight one-day innings.
Aggressive Barbados opener Dwayne Smith will also feature in the squad after missing the recent Bangladesh tour.
Selectors have dropped out-of-form right-hander Kirk Edwards and also overlooked left-arm spinner Nikita Miller who failed to play a match in the one-day series against Bangladesh.
Seasoned opener Chris Gayle was not considered for selection as he continues his rehabilitation from injury.
SQUAD – Dwayne Bravo (captain), Darren Bravo, Jason Holder, Leon Johnson, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor. (CMC)
