Windies recall King

The West Indies, who will tour without either Curtly Ambrose or Courtney Walsh for the first time in a decade, have recalled fast bowler Reon King for their trip to Zimbabwe later this month.

On their first visit to Zimbabwe, the West Indies, who lost the recent five-Test and seven-match limited-overs series at home to South Africa, will play two Tests and at least four one-day games in a triangular series also involving India.

Ambrose, who took 405 wickets in 98 Tests, retired at the end of last year's tour of England, while Walsh bowed out with a world record 519 in 132 Tests after the series against South Africa.

King looked like Ambrose's natural successor a year ago but he lost his place in the West Indies squad when injury affected his form in England. He missed the tour to Australia at the end of last year and failed to win back his place against the South Africans.

Captain Carl Hooper will have five fast bowlers - King, Corey Collymore, Cameron Cuffy, Mervyn Dillon and Kerry Jeremy - to call on during the triangular series. But Jeremy will make way for Colin Stuart for the Tests.

The West Indies are also taking two spin bowlers for each series with left-arm Neil McGarrell set for both.

Leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo returns after being overlooked for the South Africa series to play in the one-day internationals, but he will be replaced by Dinanath Ramnarine for the Tests.

There are no surprises in the batting, all having made an appearance at some point in the South African series. Wavell Hinds and Leon Garrick will swap places for the limited-overs and test matches.

The squad (Test replacement in parentheses): Carl Hooper (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Cameron Cuffy, Mervyn Dillon, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds (Leon Garrick), Kerry Jeremy (Colin Stuart), Reon King, Brian Lara, Neil McGarrell, Mahendra Nagamootoo (Dinanath Ramnarine), Marlon Samuels and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Mail Cricket Editor