THE selection of fastbowling all-rounder Andre Russell to the West Indies ‘A’ team is not a surprise, according to Jamaica’s chairman of selectors Nehemiah Perry.

Russell and fellow Jamaican David Bernard Jnr were drafted for the ‘A’ team’s tour of the United Kingdom after batsmen Travis Dowlin and Darren Bravo, along with pacer Nelon Pascal and spinner Shane Shillingford, were named in the senior squad to face the touring South Africans.

Said Perry: “Everyone has been impressed with his attitude and the effort that he puts into the game. He is a very fit person, an agressive bowler, he can bat and he’s a very brilliant fieldsman.”

Though Bernard Jnr was an obvious call-up after consistent performances at the domestic level and relative success for the senior team, the 22-year-old Russell has only played eight first-class matches.

Many have attributed his selection to his strong showings in the recent Jamaica Cricket Festival.

The highlight came in the three-day, first-class match against Ireland when he smashed an unbeaten second-innings century off 60 balls, after being promoted to number five. He was also in good form with the ball, snaring four for 41 in Ireland’s lone innings.

Perry believes the hard-hitting right-hander who has been in England playing League Cricket since April, should continue to improve if he is to break into the West Indies senior team.

“I was very impressed with him at the Festival because he bowled with a lot of pace. However, he has to continue working hard in the gym and on the field.

“He has to try and improve his game further by working with technical director (James) Adams and coach Junior Bennett,” he said.

The ‘A’ team’s tour will include two four-day encounters against India’s ‘A’ team in England, as well as a pair of limited-overs fixtures against Ireland in Belfast.

They will then turn their attention to a triangular series, including the England Lions and India ‘A’.

A team squad: Devon Smith (capt), David Bernard Jnr, Lionel Baker, Kraigg Braithwaite, Odean Brown, Kirk Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Assad Fudadin, Justin Guillien, Imran Khan, Omar Phillips, Andre Russell, Gavin Tonge, Chadwick Walton.