Barath earns Windies pick vs BangladeshisBy KERN RAMLOCHAN Sunday, July 5 2009
TRINIDAD and Tobago opening batsman Adrian Barath has earned his maiden Test call up to the West Indies team for the 2009 Digicel Home Series against Bangladesh.
According to a reliable cricket source yesterday Barath who is currently representing the West Indies “A” team against Bangladesh in Barbados will travel directly to Arnos Vale, St Vincent and commence preparation for the First Test.
The West Indies team will play its fourth and final Digicel One-Day International match against India in St Lucia today trailing the series 2-1 before travelling to St Vincent tomorrow.
Bangladesh will engage the West Indies in two Tests, three ODIs and a solitary Twenty20 match before departing for home.
Barath’s selection on the West Indies is a culmination of three consistent seasons of First Class cricket which has seen him emerge as one of the premier opening batsmen in the Caribbean.
Thus far Barath has played 21 First Class matches, scoring 1,608 runs at a staggering average of 47.29 with a highest score of 192 against the Leeward Islands at the Sir Frank Worrell Ground, UWI St Augustine earlier this year.
The First Citizens Clarke Road batsman also has a solid List A (limited overs) record playing nine matches, amassing 285 runs at an average of 31.66.
Last month Barath in an exclusive interview with Newsday explained that he turned down a chance to play county cricket in England in the anticipation of being selected for the Test series against Bangladesh.
“I had plans of going to England but I wanted to be here in case I was selected for the India or Bangladesh series and not commit myself to a rivalling contract,” said Barath. The right-handed opening batsman noted that he was preparing himself for anything and would be ready if selected on the West Indies team.
This season Barath finished the West Indies Cricket Board Four Day Tournament with 845 runs with an average of 44.47 to emerge as the leading opening batsman for the season as well as scoring a century for the West Indies ‘A’ against England earlier this year at Warner Park, St Vincent.
He credited his magnificent innings against England as the key moment which put him at the forefront for West Indies selection.
