Best hoping to end exile as Gabriel ruled out for West Indies

Former Yorkshire bowler Best has been summoned to England at short notice after Shannon Gabriel was sent home with a back injury ahead of tomorrow’s second Investec Test at Trent Bridge.

The 30-year-old is well known as one of cricket’s more extroverted characters but, after a Test exile stretching back to July 2009, he is ready to prove he can match up to the high professional standards set by coach Ottis Gibson and captain Darren Sammy.

The current regime place more emphasis on preparation and determination than their predecessors and Best wants to be a part of their plans.

“I’m very happy to be recalled to the Test squad for the series in England,” said Best, who has played 14 Tests and 12 one-day internationals.

“I’ve been waiting for my opportunity to represent the West Indies again and this is another chance to wear the ‘Baggy Maroon’.

“I’m fit and feeling quite ready. I’ve been training and working hard, looking forward to this.

“I have a good idea of the work ethic and what will be required of me.

“I’m a hard worker and I’m really delighted to get this opportunity,” added Best, who played in nine first-class matches for Yorkshire in 2010.

Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin was encouraged by aspects of his side’s performance in the series opener at Lord’s, despite eventually losing by five wickets.

Worse had been predicted by most pundits and Ramdin feels a win in one of the remaining two matches, at Trent Bridge tomorrow and Edgbaston from June 7, is a realistic target.

“It would be amazing for the young team we have to go out there and win a Test match against the No 1 team in the world,” he said.

“We showed some fight against Australia back in the Caribbean but in English conditions, we are in their backyard where it is very tough to beat them.

“But, having said that, they are beatable once we bowl the right areas, get wickets and our batters put runs on the board.

“The confidence is still high. Everyone thought we would lose inside four days (at Lord’s) but the guys showed character and fight. If we had batted a bit better in the first innings we could have probably won.”

Gabriel’s absence means at least one change in the West Indies side, with fit-again Ravi Rampaul ahead of Best in the pecking order after missing the series opener.

There is also a case for spinner Shane Shillingford.

He was left out last time despite taking 10 wickets in his previous Test appearance against Australia.