Baptiste prepares for first session in charge of Windies

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – Interim head coach Eldine Baptiste will oversee West Indies training for the first time today when the regional side undergo their first practice session since arriving here Thursday.

The 15-man squad will train at the Singalese Sports Club in the capital here as they begin final preparation for their two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

Baptiste, a current West Indies selector, was a last-minute replacement for Phil Simmons who was suspended for the tour following controversial comments last week that were critical of the selection process, regarding the one-day team for the Sri Lanka tour.

The Antiguan Baptiste, who played ten Tests and 43 One-Day Internationals, is a former Kenya coach.

Despite Simmons’s late withdrawal, CMC Sports understands the Windies squad are in high spirits, especially coming off a productive training camp in Barbados last week.

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, who missed that camp while on a two-match contract with Worcestershire in the English County Championship, has joined the squad here and is expected to bring freshness to the pace attack.

The 27-year-old Gabriel played two games, taking nine wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the last game against Middlesex which Worcestershire won by an innings and 128 runs.

West Indies will face Sri Lanka President’s XI in a three-day tour match starting next Thursday before clashing with the hosts in the opening Test in Galle beginnining October 14.

So he was one of those selectors who voted to keep bravo and pollard out? I bet he is happy with Simmons' suspension now. Set of self serving money grabbing parasites that are bringing wi cricket down!

His only task is to get Chandimal and Matthews...