Thursday, May 31 2012

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BRIDGETOWN: Indian Premier League star off-spinner Sunil Narine could be set for his Test debut after he was called up to replace injured pacer Kemar Roach on the West Indies current tour of England.

The 24-year-old starred in the just concluded IPL and was voted Man-of-the-Series for his 24 wickets which helped fire Kolkata Knight Riders to their first ever title.

Narine, who made his international debut last December, has played eight One-Day Internationals but is yet to suit up for a Test.

He was outstanding against Australia in the five-match ODI series in March, grabbing 11 wickets but was unavailable for the subsequent three-Test series because of his IPL commitments.

Narine was outstanding in the glitzy, cash-rich tournament, confusing batsmen with his variations and finishing with an excellent economy rate of 5.47.

The Trinidadian spinner also excelled in the Regional first class championship this year, snatching 31 wickets in just three games for Trinidad and Tobago.

Expected to be picked for the one-day series against England starting next month, his opportunity comes earlier than anticipated with the injury to Roach.

The 23-year-old Barbadian has been diagnosed with shin muscle soreness and will return home to recover and start a rehabilitation programme.

West Indies play Leicestershire in a two-day match this weekend before facing England in the third and final Test at Edgbaston starting June 7.

They trail the series 0-2 after losing the Lord’s Test by five wickets and the second Test at Trent Bridge by nine wickets earlier on Monday.