Marlon Samuels to join battling West Indies

Stylish Jamaican right-hander Marlon Samuels was named here Tuesday as the replacement batsman for injured Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the remainder of the Test series against Australia.

West Indies tour manager Ricky Skerritt said Samuels, 20, would fly out of the Caribbean Tuesday and would join the team in Hobart, Tasmania, Friday.

It was hoped he would be able to play in the four-day match against Australia A starting in Hobart Saturday.

Uncapped at Test level, Samuels played for the West Indies in the World Youth Cup in Sri Lanka early this year and was also in the senior squad competing in the recent ICC one-day tournament in Kenya, where he hit a half century in a warm-up match against India and showed further promise in a match against Sri Lanka.

West Indies coach Roger Harper described Samuels as "a very enthusiastic player" who was also a useful off-spin bowler.

He would come under consideration for a place in the side for the third Test starting in Adelaide Friday week, Harper said.

Chanderpaul, a key member of the squad, has a stress fracture of his left foot which is expected to sideline him for about a month.

Skerritt said he would remain with the squad for a week or two until selectors finalised the team to compete early next year in a one-day series against Australia and Zimbabwe in Australia.

"If he is chosen in the one-day squad, he will remain with us and get ready for, hopefully the fifth Test -- starting in Sydney January 2 -- as well as the limited-overs contest," he said.

"If he is not chosen, there is an outside chance he may be leaving to go back to the West Indies. That will be determined some time in the next week or so."

Meanwhile, Chanderpaul will continue to have treatment in Australia and travel with the squad.

Mail Cricket Editor