Sammy defends call-ups for Bishop, McKenzie ahead of Pakistan clash

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has maintained that the recent performances of both Joshua Bishop and Kirk McKenzie merit their selection to the West Indies squad for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan.

Bishop, 26, and the 25-year-old McKenzie, were included in a 15-member squad to face Pakistan in two Test matches, the first of which bowls off at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Saturday.

They have both impressed at the regional level, with Bishop, a left-arm spinner, having taken 91 wickets across the past three West Indies Championship seasons, while McKenzie enjoyed a stellar outing in this year’s West Indies Championship, where he scored 323 runs in six innings at an average of 64.60.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Sammy said the duo was deserving of selection.

“Joshua Bishop has been really knocking at the doors ever since. Obviously with the venue that we have here now with the Brian Lara Cricket Academy and Queen’s Park, it brings an opportunity for us to probably even play two genuine spinners and Roston as the captain as well, and Joshua Bishop’s contribution and performances will help him force his way into the Test team.

“Young McKenzie is a really bright prospect for us. He was in the team before; I remember watching him score a fighting half century in that Test match we won in Australia where Shamar Joseph had his historic moment,” Sammy recalled.

“He kind of lost form and then throughout the last two or three years he worked his foot in and unfortunately for John Campbell, who was looking good in the last Test series, but got injured, so McKenzie gets an opportunity to be in the squad.

“But again, moving forward we’re trying to have that pool of players where when one person is missing the role doesn’t change because we have somebody who can come in and fill that role. So, it’s exciting to have two young players that are the future of West Indies come in, see how the team operates and come in and gain as much experience and exposure as possible,” he added.