Chris Gayle to play in fifth World Cup; no places for Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels
Wednesday 24 April 2019 18:50, UK
Andre Russell has been included in West Indies' 15-man World Cup squad, with Carlos Brathwaite also taking one of the all-rounder spots.
Russell missed the ODI and T20I series against England earlier this year with a knee injury but has since starred for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
The Jamaican has scored 392 runs in nine innings at an average of 65.33 and a strike-rate of 217.77, while he has smashed a tournament-leading 41 sixes, nine of which came in an innings against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Russell - who played the most recent of his 52 ODIs against Bangladesh last July - has also picked up seven IPL wickets with his seam bowling.
Kieron Pollard has missed out on a spot despite a change of president - Ricky Skerritt replacing Dave Cameron - and selection panel at the West Indies Cricket Board raising belief he could be recalled, while spinner Sunil Narine has not been picked due to a finger issue.
Marlon Samuels has been overlooked, while Evin Lewis has won the battle with John Campbell to be the opening partner for Chris Gayle, who will retire from one-day international cricket at the end of his fifth World Cup.
Seamer Keemo Paul has been left out, with Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Oshane Thomas and Sheldon Cottrell joining captain Jason Holder, Russell and Brathwaite in the pace unit.
Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo has also been omitted, with all-rounder Fabian Allen the second spin option after off-spinner Ashley Nurse.
West Indies' World Cup squad: Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas
You can watch every match of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup on Sky Sports Cricket, starting with England vs South Africa at The Oval on Thursday, May 30.
