"Full tilt" Shannon Gabriel could move from reserve group into Test squad, says Phil Simmons

NICK FRIEND: Shannon Gabriel was named as one of 11 reserves in an overall playing party of 25 for this unusual tour, but could move into West Indies' main Test squad as he proves his fitness after ankle surgery

Shannon Gabriel could be drafted into West Indies’ squad in time for the first Test of their three-match series against England, says head coach Phil Simmons.

The 32-year-old fast bowler is currently among the reserves for the unusual tour which, because of the impact of the coronavirus crisis, sees the visitors based at Emirates Old Trafford with a 25-man playing party – a 14-strong Test squad alongside an 11-man reserve group.

Gabriel, however, who has only recently recovered from ankle surgery, could move across into Jason Holder’s main group and become available for selection.

“One thing we looked at with him was, yes, he’s one of West Indies’ most prominent fast bowlers coming back from injury,” Simmons said. “We just had to make sure, especially, that he was fit enough to go through the tour. So, yes, there is a possibility of Shannon Gabriel joining the touring party of 14.

“For the last week, he has been at full tilt and he looks fit, he looks good. He’s bowling as fast as I’ve seen him for a while. He’s ready and close enough to the Test match.”

Speaking last week, Gabriel himself was bullish in his desire to get back on the field. “After being away from the game so long, almost six or seven months, you are kind of hungry to get back on the field,” he expained.

“I am looking forward to the warm-up games and we will take it from there. I have played a few Test matches before, so I know how to prepare.

“There are a lot of young fast bowlers coming through which is exciting for West Indies cricket. So rather than just get myself prepared, I am trying to lend any knowledge and experience onto them that they can take into their game. The ankle is good at the moment, no pain, no aches.

“I am about 85 to 90 percent fit, but in terms of bowling fitness and match readiness, I still have some more work to do to hit my rhythm, but there are still three weeks and two warm-up games before the first Test match.”

^{Shannon Gabriel has recovered from ankle surgery}

Gabriel’s last first-class appearance came during a brief stint as Gloucestershire’s overseas player at the back end of the 2019 season. He took two wickets in two games but struggled with a no-ball problem, bowling 20 in three innings.

He holds a fine record against England, proving a key player in West Indies' series win in the Caribbean last year. He has taken 26 Test wickets against this summer’s opposition, the most of any nation he has played against. In England, his figures stand at 11 wickets in three games at an average fractionally above 31.

In the ICC’s Test bowler rankings, he sits 19th – the third-placed West Indian on the list, behind Jason Holder and Kemar Roach.

“That shows you there’s quality there,” Simmons added. “I don’t know how you rank them with the past, but I think in this generation they are up there and they’re showing the way.

“There are six, seven, eight youngsters here who are eager to learn. Of the youngsters in this squad, you have Alzarri Joseph and Chemar Holder. Alzarri Joseph is going to be a big hit on this tour.

“What has stood out to me here is the attitude in training – they’re wanting to learn, they’re wanting to speak to Kemar and Jason and Shannon, and even Kraigg [Brathwaite] and [Shai] Hope, who are senior batsmen. There’s a desire for knowledge, a desire for improvement. I think that shows a lot for our cricket moving forward.”

West Indies’ own preparations will progress in the next week, with a three-day practice match beginning on Tuesday, followed then by an inter-squad four-day game.

He commented as well on Rahkeem Cornwall, the off-spinner who made his Test debut in August against India. In only his second Test – a clash with Afghanistan in November, he took ten wickets in the match. Simmons confirmed that he would likely be included in the side for the first Test, depending on conditions.

“We haven’t seen what the Ageas Bowl is like,” he said. “When we get down there and we see it, we’ll know what our combination will be like.

“Rahkeem got ten wickets in the last game, so you can say that Rahkeem will be a part. Whether we go with two spinners and three fast bowlers or four and one, we will determine that when we see the Ageas Bowl and then when we get back here (Emirates Old Trafford) and we see the Test wicket.”

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