Dwayne Smith replaces injured Sammy for ODI series against India

Nagpur, Jan 19 (UNI) Despite not being part of the original squad, all-rounder Dwayne Smith has arrived with the visiting West Indies team as replacement for the injured Darren Sammy.

A team release said Sammy had sustained an injury during the second round match of the Carib Beer Series between the Windward Islands and Jamaica in St. Lucia, which ruled him out of the West Indies tour to India.

Accordingly, Dwayne Smith arrived with the team that reached Mumbai yesterday and will be here today for the first practice session in preparation for the first of four ODIs starting on Sunday.

Meanhile, rookie medium pacer Rayad Emrit said he was undaunted by the prospects of bowling to batting genius Sachin Tendulkar.

''I am excited to go out there and bowl at world class players such as (Sachin) Tendulkar and (Rahul) Dravid and hopefully getting them out as well,'' he said.

In his rather surprise selection, the pacer from from Trinidad and Tobago, said, ''It was a bit of a surprise at first, having just played one 'A' Team game but I know I have been working hard at my game, and having a good season last year and the year before I knew it would come soon.'' Emrit has already set personal goals for the ODI series.

''My first goal is to get selected in final 11 and then do what I have been doing all the time that is getting wickets and scoring runs consistently. I am really looking forward to getting onto the field and getting started, looking at the guys on TV, it's a dream come true to actually be here and I am excited to go out there and show what I'm capable of,'' said the bowler, who has 57 first class wickets from 23 matches.

''I also see this as a good opportunity to secure a spot in the squad for the World Cup,'' he said.

UNI