Trinidad and Tobago fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican have been called up to the West Indies Test squad after more than a year’s absence, the Cricket West Indies (CWI) men’s selection committee announced on Tuesday.
Gabriel’s last Test match was against Sri Lanka in November 2021, while Warwick’s last international appearance was in Sri Lanka, in December 2021 when he played in both Test matches.
Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, (TTCB) coach Kelvin Williams believes the 34-year-old is ready for his second stint. Williams has been working on his bowling with Gabriel, while pacer Jason Pilgrim has been on a fitness programme.
“He is one who will leave home at 4 a.m. to do what he has to do. He is ready for this. He knows what he is doing and once he can stay injury- free, I expect good things from him in Zimbabwe.”
Williams, who spoke to the Trinidad Express yesterday insisted,
“He is ready to return to the West Indies set-up and I am quite pleased with that.”
“I thought he put in a lot of work physically. Bowling-wise, looking at him now, I think his speed is up from the last time he played. His control is good at this time and I hope he can be injury-free throughout that tour to Zimbabwe.”
After months of hard work and technical tweaks on his fitness, Gabriel was called up for the Zimbabwe tour. The coach added,
“Shannon is one who dedicated himself to his fitness programme and to try and improve in his bowling. These days there is a lot of pressure when you play Test match cricket and to be on the park your fitness has got to be up there. He concentrated a lot on that and we did a lot of skill work as far as his bowling was concerned.”
Jason Pilgrim did the fitness programme with him and I was looking after the bowling side of things
Gabriel, once the spearhead of the Caribbean team’s attack, has been out of a Test for 15 months due to injury and loss of form, but now returns with former new-ball partner Kemar Roach to lead the bowling line-up.
“He came back with a bit of an injury,” Williams recalled, “but he started to work right away.”
Gabriel has taken 161 wickets in 56 Tests, making him joint 12th in West Indies’ all-time wicket-taker list and was most recently the joint-leading wicket-taker in the CG United Super50 Trophy for the TT Red Force in November last year.
“I thought he bowled well in the Super50 and I believe that is why he is being recalled.”
Gabriel’s presence will be crucial for the West Indies as 26-year-old Trinidadian Anderson Phillips is also injured and 21-year-old seamer Jayden Seals has been ruled out of the upcoming tour after undergoing knee surgery.
The selectors have kept faith with all-rounder Ramon Riffer, despite missing out on the tour of Australia with a groin injury, while batsman Devon Thomas, who made his Test debut, has also been retained. However, stylish right-hander, Shamarh Brooks has dismissed Australia with 52 runs in four innings.
West Indies will face Zimbabwe in the opening Test starting on February 4 at the Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo before returning to the same venue for the second Test from February 12.
Captain Kraigg Brathwaite will lead a team that includes left-handed opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who averaged 40 runs in the last tour of Australia. West Indies have won all five of their Test series against the African nation.
Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Tagnarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Raymon Roacher, Raymon Roacher, Devon Thomas, Jomel Warriken