Bernard Jnr to lead Windies ‘A’, Santokie also selected
DAVID Bernard Jnr was on Sunday selected to lead the 13-man West Indies ‘A’ team for two T20 matches against Pakistan ‘A’ next month here in the region, with Barbadian Jason Holder as his deputy.
Bernard Jnr is among four Jamaicans selected in the team, with Krishmar Santokie, a standout in the inaugural Caribbean T20 tournament, as well as Danza Hyatt and Nikita Miller.
Santokie, 25, represented the West Indies in the Under-15 Costcutter Cup in England in 2000 before dipping under the radar.
He, however, resurfaced during the recently staged Twenty20 spectacle and was described as “one of the finds” of the tournament after bagging 10 wickets at an economy rate of 5.55.
Not the towering fastbowlers from the great West Indies era, the small-framed Santokie, who stands at just over five-and-a-half feet tall, takes a direct approach relying heavily on swing through the air.
Opposing batsmen during the tournament found him to be more than a handful, as half of his 10 victims were clean bowled.
Santokie’s reward is just, so too is Guyana’s Jonathan Foo, who has also been selected after emerging as one of the stars of the tournament in helping his country to the title.
Majority of the members chosen by the selectors are emerging, but experienced first-class players like Hyatt, Miller and Ravi Rampaul have been given another chance to develop against tougher players with international experience.
“We have a number of exciting young players who have come to the fore in the Twenty20 format during the Caribbean Twenty20, and they are now being given an opportunity to continue on their developmental path against international opposition,” noted Clyde Butts, chairman of the WICB selection committee.
In addition to the T20s, the two sides will engage each other in two four-day matches and three 50-over games starting November 3.
The West Indies are expected to announce different teams for the four-day and limited-over contests.
West Indies ‘A’ squad (T20): David Bernard Jnr — captain, Jason Holder — vice captain, Miles Bascombe, Devendra Bishoo, Johnson Charles, Kirk Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Jonathan Foo, Danza Hyatt, Nikita Miller, Ashley Nurse, Ravi Rampaul, Krishmar Santokie.