Jacobs recalled for third Test

West Indies selectors today announced the 13-man squad ahead of the third Test in the 2002 Cable & Wireless Series. The selectors have made two changes in an effort to get the West Indies back on track as the series progresses.

Recalled to the squad is former vice captain and reliable wicketkeeper/batsman, Ridley Jacobs, and Barbadian left arm pacer, Pedro Collins.

Jacobs, who has been a dependable middle order batsman for the West Indies over the past five years, was unceremoniously dropped at the start of the 2002 Cable & Wireless Test series. His successor, Junior Murray, was preferred following an excellent run with the bat during the West Indies' domestic competition - the Busta Cup.

Meanwhile, Collins makes his return to the West Indies line up and replaces Marlon Black. Collins, who last represented the West Indies during the historic series against Pakistan that was played in Sharjah, has been preferred to the less than fit Marlon Black.

The West Indies, who are 1-nil down in the five-Test series, will be going all out to level the series at the typically pacy Kensington Oval. The West Indies will be looking for more production from its opening pair of Stuart Williams and Chris Gayle, while their middle order has been strengthened with the inclusion of former vice captain Jacobs.

Earlier, the selectors made the point that they were rewarding performance and selecting those persons in-form. It therefore passed as strange why Grenadian opener Devon Smith was not selected for the first two Tests. Only one other batsman - Stuart Williams - scored more runs during the Busta Cup. Meanwhile, Dinanath Ramnarine has been retained in the squad for the recuperating Mahendra Nagamootoo.

West Indies lost the second 2002 Cable & Wireless Test at Port of Spain's Queen's Park Oval by 35 runs. The third Test between the West Indies and India begins on Thursday 2 May and will be played at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Squad: Carl Hooper (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Cameron Cuffy, Mervyn Dillon, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Brian Lara, Dinanath Ramnarine, Adam Sanford, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Stuart Williams.