Thomas, McCoy travelling with WI team as a development initiative

Young fast bowlers Oshane Thomas and Obed McCoy will be travelling with the West Indies squad for the Colonial Medical Insurance One-Day International (ODI) series as a development initiative.

Thomas, the 22-year-old Jamaican fast bowler, last represented the West Indies last August against India, while for McCoy, the 23-year-old St. Vincent left-arm medium-pacer, he previously appeared in the Colonial Medical Insurance ODI series versus England last March.

Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams explained the benefits of this decision: “Head Coach Phil Simmons recently expressed concerns over the readiness of both Oshane and Obed. Out of the discussion, he requested a provision be made for both players to spend time with the squad over the course of the Ireland series where they could undergo supervised fitness and technical work.

Ultimately this is part of an effort to widen the pool of players identified as having potential roles in our white ball squads.”

These targeted plans for individual players and team development are not new to coach Simmons. In 2016, during his previous stint as West Indies coach, he organised a one-week spin bowling camp in preparation for home and away series against India and Pakistan respectively, to similarly address player development and increasing the talent pool in the Test format. (CWI)