Hard-hitting West Indies opener Evin Lewis and middle order batsman Shimron Hetmyer have been axed from the One –Day International (ODI) squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka after failing Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) new fitness standards.
In a media release, CWI said the two players did not “attain the new minimum standard fitness required in recent fitness assessments” and would not be part of the 15-man squad led by all-rounder Kieron Pollard.
Lewis was the team’s best batsman in the recent ODI series Colonial Medical Insurance ODI series against Ireland where he proved the bedrock for the team’s Series win.
Hetmyer appeared to be getting his act together and was an integral part of the team’s batting group.
Lewis, 28, averages nearly 36 from 51 ODIs and has been one of the Windies’ most dependable batsmen in recent time. During the last eight months he has averaged nearly 43 from 16 matches.
He smashed 208 runs at an average of 104 in three matches against Ireland last month to earn Man-of-the-Series honors.
Hetmyer, meanwhile endured poor form in the series against Ireland with scores of six and eight in the doubleheader in Barbados before being dropped for the final game.
Meanwhile, Darren Bravo has been recalled to the side four months after being dropped for the tour of Afghanistan over his poor form.
Since then, he has returned to form with nearly 500 runs at an average of 96 during last November’s Super50 Cup and has averaged 50 from four innings in the first-class championship so far this year.
All-rounder Rovman Powell has been recalled to the team following 14 months on the sidelines, while left-arm spinning all-rounder Fabien Allen, returns following an injury.
West Indies left last week for the series which opens in Colombo on February 22 and continues with matches four days later, with the final match set for Kandy on March 2.
Following the series, the regional team faces Sri Lanka in two Twenty20 Internationals.
