ST JOHN’S (Antigua), Dec 29: Batting star Brian Lara and fast bowler Nixon McLean have been named in a West Indies 15-member World Cup squad, the West Indies Cricket Board announced on Saturday.

Lara makes his return to international cricket after recovering from the illness that struck him down during the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka last September, and kept him out of the West Indies’ subsequent tours of India and Bangladesh.

For the 29-year-old McLean, who has played 44 One-day Internationals, his selection offers him a chance to revive his international career that appeared to have ended after playing in the 2001 home series against South Africa.

“Having Brian back will be an added punch to what progress we might have achieved towards the end of the Asian tour and I think it is marvellous that he is back and we welcome him with open arms,” remarked Viv Richards, chairman of the West Indies selection committee.

“It means we have some more depth in our batting and if we can get a few more things working, I think we have a great chance of going very far in the 2003 World Cup,” added the former captain and batting maestro.

“You will also notice that McLean is back after not being the squad, most notably in Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh this year, but he’s had some experience of playing provincial cricket in South Africa.

“In general, I believe it is a team of ‘horses for courses’ because we have picked six fast bowlers knowing the kind of conditions that we may encounter in South Africa, where the pitches tend to offer plenty of bounce and movement.”

West Indies depart for the World Cup on Jan 28 following a two-week camp in Antigua.

West Indies were twice World Cup champions in 1975 and 1979.

SQUAD: Carl Hooper (captain), Ridley Jacobs (vice-captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Brian Lara, Jermaine Lawson, Nixon McLean, Ricardo Powell, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan.—AFP