Nicholas Pooran included in the WI-A squad to face NZ-A in four day games
Nicholas Pooran received a major boost in his Test cricketing career, as the 25 year old was included in the WI-A squad to face NZ-A in a four day game.
Nicholas Pooran’s stocks have shot up considerably in the past years, after his hard hitting in the limited overs format. The southpaw demonstrated his prowess in the recently concluded IPL, where he played a significant part for Punjab.
His selection in the squad comes with some surprise as Pooran last played a first class match, six years ago in 2014. The likes of Michael Holding and Roddy Estwick have pressed on the need to include the southpaw in the longer format of the game for West Indies.
The West Indies Test squad consists of eight players involved in the current T20I series against New Zealand. Nicholas Pooran could get a chance to play the two match Test series against the Kiwis. However, if that does not pan out, Pooran will join the Melbourne Stars team for the upcoming Big Bash League season.
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“This series will give our players an opportunity to play first-class cricket against foreign opposition as well as experience different conditions here in NZ. It will also help to keep them in the frame should the need for replacements for the Test team arise, as we will have players who have been playing red ball cricket and in form to consider,” Roger Harper CWI lead selector said.
The first of the two four-day matches will commence from December 3 at Mount Maunganui and the second game will be played at Nelson from December 11.
West Indies A squad: Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Shayne Moseley, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Raymon Reifer, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh, Fabian Allen.
The West Indian outfit is currently playing the T20 series against the Kiwis, where they have already lost the series and are trailing 0-2 in the three match series. The first T20 match was a close call, but the West Indians were outplayed an all-round performance by the Kiwis in the second T20.
Nicholas Pooran has not been in good touch in the series against New Zealand as he has just managed to score 8 runs in his two innings so far. Given his recent call up to the WI-A squad, the southpaw will hope for better performances in the future.