McLean among West Indies hopefuls for 2003 World Cup

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, Dec. 2, WICB: The international career of fast bowling all-rounder Nixon McLean may not be over just yet after his inclusion in the West Indies' 30-member provisional squad for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

McLean, aged 29, has played 44 limited-overs internationals for West Indies, scoring 309 runs at an average of 12.36 and captured 46 wickets at 36.76 apiece with an economy rate of 4.86 runs per over.

His international career appeared to have ended after playing in the Cable & Wireless 2001 home limited-overs international series against South Africa before taking up an offer to play for the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins in the South Africa provincial championship later in that year.

McLean captured 44 wickets, the second highest tally, at 16.27 apiece in the Super Sport Series, the South Africa four-day first-class competition, and 15 wickets, the seventh highest aggregate, at 15.33 with an economy rate of 3.48 in the Standard Bank Cup. This performance helped Natal win both championships.

The squad will be reduced to 15 by December 31 this year in accordance with regulations set out in the Participating Nations Agreement between the International Cricket Council and the 14 countries taking part in the World Cup.

All countries had to submit a provisional squad of 30 to the ICC by November 30 or the first working day that followed. Players not named in the provisional squad of 30 can only be included in cases of injury or exceptional circumstances.

West Indies departs for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya on January 28 following a two-week training camp currently scheduled for Antigua.

McLean is one of five players not picked in West Indies teams during this calendar year that have found favour in the eyes of the selection panel chaired by the legendary former West Indies batting star and captain, Sir Vivian Richards.

The other four are left-handed batsman Floyd Reifer, who was the leading batsmen in this year's Red Stripe Bowl West Indies limited-overs domestic championship, left-arm spin bowler Neil McGarrell as well fast bowlers Reon King and Kerry Jeremy.

Four players who have never played for the senior West Indies team have also been named in the provisional squad. They are headed by exciting left-handed opening batsman Devon Smith and also include left-handed all-rounder Ian Bradshaw, left-arm spin bowler Sulieman Benn, and wicketkeeper/batsman Keith Hibbert.

As expected, Brian Lara has been named in the West Indies provisional squad. The left-handed batting maestro has recovered from the illness that struck him down during the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy limited-overs championship in Sri Lanka last September and is ready to return on the biggest stage of them all.

The full 30-member squad is:

1. Sulieman Benn (Barbados)
2. Marlon Black (Trinidad & Tobago)
3. Ian Bradshaw (Barbados)
4. Gareth Breese (Jamaica)
5. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Guyana)
6. Pedro Collins (Barbados)
7. Corey Collymore (Barbados)
8. Cameron Cuffy (Windward Islands)
9. Mervyn Dillon (Trinidad & Tobago)
10. Vasbert Drakes (Barbados)
11. Daren Ganga (Trinidad & Tobago)
12. Chris Gayle (Jamaica)
13. Keith Hibbert (Jamaica)
14. Ryan Hinds (Barbados)
15. Wavell Hinds (Barbados)
16. Carl Hooper (Guyana)
17. Ridley Jacobs (Leeward Islands)
18. Kerry Jeremy (Leeward Islands)
19. Reon King (Guyana)
20. Brian Lara (Trinidad & Tobago)
21. Jermaine Lawson (Jamaica)
22. Neil McGarrell (Guyana)
23. Nixon McLean (Windward Islands)
24. Mahendra Nagamootoo (Guyana)
25. Daren Powell (Jamaica)
26. Ricardo Powell (Jamaica)
27. Floyd Reifer (Barbados)
28. Marlon Samuels (Jamaica)
29. Ramnaresh Sarwan (Guyana)
30. Devon Smith (Windward Islands)