KINGSTON, April 8: Adam Sanford Sunday became the first cricketer from one of the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean to be picked for West Indies when the squad for the First Test against India was named.

Sanford, a Dominica-born fast bowler, who now lives in Antigua, earns his place following an impressive season in the domestic championship in which he captured 41 wickets at 25.19 apiece in eight matches.

Sanford is from the indigenous Carib people, many of whom reside in his native Dominica, and will be one of the fast bowlers that captain Carl Hooper expects to call upon to try and blast out the Indian batsmen during the series which starts in Guyana Thursday.

Brian Lara and batting prodigy Ramnaresh Sarwan both return from injury and should add substance to the batting.

Lara dislocated and fractured his elbow after colliding with a Sri Lankan fielder in December, but has proved his fitness in time to be named in the 13-man squad.

There have been recalls for opening batsman Stuart Williams and wicket-keeper/ batsman Junior Murray, neithe rof whom has played Test cricket for three years.

Also recalled are leg-spin bowler Mahendra Nagamootoo and fast bowler Marlon Black.

Opening batsman Daren Ganga and wicket-keeper/batsman Ridley Jacobs, vice-captain of the sidelast year, are two notable omissions from the squad that was scheduled to assemble in Georgetown Monday ahead of the gruelling home series.

Squad:

Carl Hooper (captain, Guyana), Chris Gayle (Jamaica), Stuart Williams (Leeward Islands), Ramnaresh Sarwan (Guyana), Brian Lara (Trinidad and Tobago), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Guyana), Ryan Hinds (Barbados), Junior Murray (Windward Islands), Mervyn Dillon (Trinidad and Tobago), Cameron Cuffy (Windward Islands), Adam Sanford (Leeward Islands), Marlon Black (Trinidad and Tobago), Mahendra Nagamootoo (Guyana).—AFP/Reuters