Carew ignores Lara plea for genuine quick

Joey Carew, convenor of West Indies' selection panel, has declined to comment on Brian Lara's plea to include a bowler of genuine pace in the squad for the third Test. With the St Kitts Test due to start on Thursday, Carew has, however, agreed with Lara on the fact that pitches in the Caribbean need improvement.

In response to Lara's suggestion that Jermaine Lawson be considered for selection in the absence of Fidel Edwards, sidelined since the first Test with a hamstring injury, Carew told the Trinidad Guardian: "Brian said that he spoke to some people who said that Jermaine Lawson, the quickie from Jamaica, is ready, but we still have our doubts about his bowling action. He has been called internationally for throwing, and even in a local match. For Lawson to be included in the team, we must see him bowling at top pace with a clean action."

Carew, a former Trinidad and Tobago captain and West Indies opener, was of the opinion that the ideal bowling combination would be three fast bowlers, a spinner, and Dwayne Bravo, the allrounder. "You see when you have this kind of composition, you have an attack that can perform on any surface, because there is variety at your disposal," he said. "I think that pretty soon, these guys will break the ice and start winning matches for us. So far, we have had some encouraging signs, and it is just a matter of time before they make the breakthrough."

"We need better pitches in the Caribbean," Carew added. "Look at India, they cannot even bowl us out twice. Looking at our bowling attack, a major factor has so far been the absence of Fidel Edwards through injury. He was an essential part of our attack and would have provided the pace that is necessary to be penetrative on such pitches."

Carew said he believed West Indies would begin winning Test matches soon. "What I would like to see happening at present is our batsmen compiling more runs," he explained. "We have been drawing matches, and even if we cannot win matches presently, then they should not be struggling to draw games."

Carew gave no reasons as to why Dave Mohammed, the left-arm spinner, was omitted from the 13-man squad for the third Test.