I don’t think Narine is playing the Tests: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978 – Cricket News Update
Australian captain, Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, scheduled to commence from April 7, 2012 Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
“I don't think he's playing the Test series,” Clarke said. “I think he's playing in the IPL the last I heard. I heard the West Indies were going to release him to play the full time in the IPL...”
A clash in schedules for the young off-spinner was hinted at earlier this week by West Indies coach http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ottis-Delroy-Gibson-c80358. Narine does not hold a central contract with the West Indies cricket board, and only recently came into prominence on the international stage.
He made his ODI debut against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 late last year, claiming 2 for 34, and emerged as a promising new talent for the Windies team when he claimed 9 scalps in 4 innings during the ongoing ODIs against Australia.
However, his availability for the upcoming Test leg of the tour is in doubt, after he recently picked up a $700,000 contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders. With the schedules of the Test series and IPL clashing, Narine’s place in the playing XI for either
team is as yet unconfirmed.
If the young player decides to opt for the IPL, it could heighten Australia’s chances of a Tests series win. Australia have been having a rough tour of the Caribbean, battling unfamiliar foreign conditions, and their 5-wicket defeat in the second ODI of
the series owed completely to Narine’s match-winning 4 for 27.
“He's bowled very well,” Clarke observed, prior to his departure for the West Indies. “He's got really good control and he can not only spin his offspinner but the ball the other way so I guess that's the hardest thing about playing spin, being able to pick
him. Once you pick him you still have to play (the ball) and on the wickets so far it's been quite tough.”
However, the Aussie skipper, who recently recovered from a hamstring injury and will be joining the national squad for the Test leg of the tour, added that if the 23-year-old spinner did end up playing in the Tests, the Aussie team would be ready to face
him.
Tags: