Nagamootoo booted from Windies squad

The West Indies selectors delivered a significant vote of no-confidence in Mehendra Nagamootoo yesterday, omitting the leg-spinner from the squad for the second Test against India in spite of a bare pitch seemingly tailored for the Indian spinners.

Nagamootoo was the only one dropped from the 11 that lost the first Test in Mumbai by an innings and 112 runs.

Jermaine Lawson, the 20-year-old fast bowler, and his fellow Jamaican, off-spinner/batsman Gareth Breese, 26, neither of whom has yet played Test cricket, were included in the 12 from whom the final team would be named at the start.

Both were expected to make their debut with Lawson gaining final preference over aging fast bowler, Cameron Cuffy, 32.

Manager Ricky Skerritt said Nagamootoo was unfortunate to lose his place but added he seemed to be lacking confidence.

The fourth leg-spinner used by the West Indies in the past six years, after Rajindra Dhanraj, Dinanath Ramnarine and Rawl Lewis, Nagamootoo's five Tests have been spread one at a time (against England in England in 2000, Australia in Australia in 2001, India and New Zealand in the West Indies in 2002 and India in the first Test in Mumbai).

His 12 wickets have cost an average 53.08 runs each and taken a strike rate of one every 20.75 overs. He had three for 132 from 47 overs in the first Test but his first was not until his 38th over.

The 12: Carl Hooper (captain), Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ryan Hinds, Gareth Breese, Ridley Jacobs, Merv Dillon, Jermaine Lawson, Pedro Collins and Cameron Cuffy.