Smith included in squad for practice game against Australia

St. John`s (Antigua): Out-of-sorts opener Devon Smith has been named in a WICB President’s XI to face Australia in three-day tour match starting in Barbados on Monday.

The 12-man squad, which will be led by West Indies wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr, will also include speedster Fidel Edwards, emerging limited overs batsman Johnson Charles and 22-year-old left-hander Kieran Powell. Smith’s selection is somewhat surprising, especially since the left-hander has endured a string of failures in the Regional Four-Day Championship. In fact, his last six innings have yielded a mere 12 runs, though he got a century against Jamaica in his opening innings of the season at Sabina Park. Combined Campuses and Colleges off-spinner Ryan Austin, who took 38 wickets during the first class season, has been included along with talented all-rounder Nkrumah Bonner, a member of the Windies T20 side. According to the West Indies Cricket Board, only Baugh and Edwards from the players whose teams are contesting this weekend’s semi-finals of the first class season, were considered for selection. The match will be played at the 3Ws Oval and is the only tour fixture ahead of the first Test against Australia which starts April 7 at Kensington Oval. Squad: Carlton Baugh Jr (captain), Ryan Austin, Nkrumah Bonner, Johnson Charles, Kyle Corbin, Fidel Edwards, Jason Holder, Delorn Johnson, Nelon Pascal, Kieran Powell, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas. IANS