WI go through their paces

The visiting West Indies ‘A’ side had a full three-hour training session at the KSCA (B) ground here on Friday as they geared up for the series against India ‘A’ that begins at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.

The team arrived in the city on Thursday and will take part in three one-dayers, which will be followed by a one-off T20 and three four-day games, all in Karnataka.
The captain of the one-day side, Kieran Powell is no stranger to Indian shores, having toured with the seniors in 2011. With just a day left for the first match, the Caribbeans have very little time to adjust to the conditions. 

“We are just about starting to get prepared for Sunday. We are just going through our paces, the batsmen have had a round at the nets, the bowlers had a few overs and we should be getting into the grind tomorrow (Saturday),” said the side’s lanky fast bowler Miguel Cummins.

The 23-year-old, who has 39 wickets from 10 first-class games, hoped he would get to play a strong role in the forthcoming matches. “There is a tinge of green in the wicket. If it plays like the practice pitches, then it should be a good wicket,” he said. The vice-captain of the squad, Veerasammy Permaul will join his team-mates on Saturday.

The India ‘A’ squad arrived in bits and blobs and had an optional session in the afternoon that saw skipper Yuvraj Singh bat as well as bowl.

The southpaw, looking much fitter and sharper than when he turned out for Pune Warriors India in the Indian Premier League, will be eyeing this series to make a comeback into the national side.

Nine members of the squad had a gentle training session in the evening, with local lad Robin Uthappa the first one to hit the nets. Shahbaz Nadeem, Kedar Jadhav and the two Pathans – Irfan and Yusuf – and Unmukt Chand, who has already arrived after the matches against New Zealand ‘A’ in Visakhapatnam, will all take part in the training session on Saturday.

West Indies ‘A’ squads: One-day and one-off T20: Kieran Powell (captain), Veerasammy Permaul (vice-captain), Ronsford Beaton, Nkrumah Bonner, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Miguel Cummins, Narsingh Deonarine, Kirk Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Leon Johnson, Nikita Miller, Ashley Nurse, Andre Russell and Devon Thomas.

‘Test’ squad: Kirk Edwards (captain), Kieran Powell (vice-captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Miguel Cummins, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Jahmar Hamilton, Delorn Johnson, Leon Johnson, Nikita Miller, Veerasammy Permaul, Shane Shillingford, Chadwick Walton.