Lawson excluded due to suspect action: Windies chief selector

St Kitts, June 20 (UNI) West Indies chairman of selectors Joey Carew has defended their decision of not picking Jermaine Lawson for the third Test against India, as requested by captain Brian Lara, saying that the Jamaican pacer had a suspect action and needs to be tested before being considered for selection.

''He has been called internationally for throwing and even in a local match,'' Carew told the 'Trinidad Guardian'.

''For Lawson to be included in the team, we must see him bowling at top pace with a clean action,'' he added.

Lara had demanded the inclusion of a genuine pacer like Lawson for the third match here, after two draws at Antigua and St Lucia, saying that only fast bowlers could infuse life into the West Indian bowling attack.

Lawson, whose last Test appearence was last year, has been reported to the ICC twice in the past.

The pacer was cleared for bowling after a test in September last year but remains a suspect for his own board.

Meanwhile, ICC pitch consultant Andy Atkinson, who has been flown in to prepare a livelier track for the match here, said captains will find ways to criticise goundsmen despite their best efforts. He promised a better pitch for the match starting June 22.

''This one won't have too much grass but there will be plenty of life otherwise,'' he said of the Warner Park track.

''The trouble is captains request a lively pitch, but the moment the ball starts flying around their ears, they go out and slam groundsmen,'' he added.

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