GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

Marlon Samuels lashed a double century on the final day of a two-day practice match here yesterday, to warm up for the opening Test against Pakistan later this week.

The right-hander hit a brilliant 213 retired as an Invitational XI, responding to a West Indies XI's 310 for five declared, reached 398 for eight at the Demerara Cricket Club.

Samuels was subsequently named in a 13-man squad late yesterday for the first Test starting at the National Stadium at Providence on Thursday.

Also recalled to the Test squad is Barbadian fast bowler Fidel Edwards who has been out with injury for two years. Embattled left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul is also in the squad.

The squad, with Darren Sammy in charge, was announced late yesterday following the end of the practice match.

excluded

Teenaged opener Kraigg Brathwaite and all-rounder Andre Russell have been excluded from the 15-man training squad.

Edwards has not played a Test since the nightmare tour of England in 2009 and has not tasted international action for West Indies since the World Twenty20 Championship later that same year.

He was kept out by a back injury that required surgery but returned to first-class action this year with 22 wickets for Barbados in the Regional Championship.

Chanderpaul, meanwhile, has also been included after being overlooked for the five-match one-day series which finished last week.

The veteran left-hander has been involved in a spat with the West Indies Cricket Board over his non-selection, claiming he was asked to retire from ODIs but refused.

He is the most experienced player in the young squad with 9,063 runs from 129 Tests and along with fellow Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan, will carry the burden of the side's batting.

Sarwan, who averages 41 from 83 Tests, was only picked for the last two ODIs of the series as the WICB enacted their selection youth policy.

Samuels, meanwhile, is poised to play his first Test in three years following a two-year international ban while vice-captain Brendan Nash takes up his place in the squad after missing the limited overs campaigns this year.

Proceeded to dominate

In yesterday's practice match, Samuels strode to the wicket at number three after opener Kraigg Brathwaite fell leg before wicket to speedster Kemar Roach (4) early in the morning with the score on four for one, and proceeded to dominate.

Samuels, who struggled for runs during the just concluded one-day international series, smashed 27 fours and 12 stunning sixes in an innings that required just 165 balls.

He shared a 189-run stand for the second wicket with opener Chris Barnwell whose 66 came from 81 balls and included 12 fours and a six.

Nash got 31 but Sarwan failed with 18, falling to Roach who captured two for 68.

SQUAD - Darren Sammy (captain), Brendan Nash (vice-captain), Devendra Bishoo, Carlton Baugh Jr, Darren Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith.