ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has offered Jayden Seales and two other rookie seamers retainer contracts for the next year, but the experienced pair of Shannon Gabriel and Darren Bravo have been axed from the list.
The outstanding Trinidadian Seales has been joined by the white-ball pair of Obed McCoy and Odean Smith on the new list announced Tuesday by CWI.
Test off-spinning all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall has, meanwhile, lost his retainer along with left-arm spinning white-ball all-rounder Fabien Allen and white-ball opener Evin Lewis, but batsmen Brandon King and Rovman Powell, along with fast-bowling all-rounder Romario Shepherd, have done enough to find themselves back in the reckoning in the men’s category which comprises 18 players.
“Congratulations to all the players who have been offered contracts,” said chief selector Desmond Haynes.
“We think this is a dynamic group, with the right mixture of experience and youthfulness to properly represent the people of the Caribbean.
“With general retainer contracts, it gives us a pool of talented and dedicated cricketers who can take West Indies cricket forward in years to come.”
Seales, 20, made a bright start at the Test level as a teenager last June and has gone on to take 36 wickets from nine matches at an average of 21 while also making his One-Day International debut earlier this month.
McCoy was picked for last year’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates but was sidelined with injury after featuring in the opening game.
However, the 25-year-old claimed 18 wickets from 11 T20 Internationals last year to be one of his side’s leading bowlers.
Smith, meanwhile, has played the majority of his 10 T20Is over the last seven months with modest success.
Topping the retainer list is captain Kraigg Brathwaite who averaged nearly 40 in Tests during the period under review, along with his vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood and all-rounder Jason Holder.
The 29-year-old Holder struggled during the review period, averaging 19 in Tests with the bat while taking 19 wickets at 32 apiece, averaging 20 with the bat in ODIs, and taking seven wickets while averaging 16 in T20Is and grabbing 23 wickets.
On the women’s side, all-rounders Mandy Mangru and Jannillea Glasgow, along with batsman Rashada Williams were all awarded international retainers for the first time in the form of development contracts.
The list, comprising 18 women, is headlined by the likes of newly appointed captain Hayley Matthews, former skipper Stafanie Taylor and explosive marquee all-rounder Deandra Dottin.
“The selectors have placed a great focus on the young developing players because these are the ones who will help to build the team as we look towards the future,” said women’s chief selector Ann Browne-John.
“The panel believes that the combination of experienced players and the emerging players will give a good base as we continue to prepare teams for international matches and the T20 World Cup early next year.”
LISTS:
MEN – Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh Jr.
WOMEN – Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Chinelle Henry, Mandy Mangru, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Kaysia Schultz, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams
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