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West Indies coach David Moore says off-spinner Chris Gayle is perhaps Caribbean’s best spinner at the moment.

When selectors picked the 15-man squad for England tour last week no specialist spinner was included sparking criticism from several quarters.

“We’ve got to find a good spinner. I don’t know whether I necessarily have seen someone that can match Chris Gayle when he is at his best,” Moore said. “I think Gayle is a very proficient spinner at Test level, he’s taken Test five-wicket hauls and got reasonable strike rate and bowling average,” he remarked.

Gayle has taken 53 wickets from 64 Tests and provided bulk of West Indies spin variety in recent years.

Left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed has been one of preferred choices in recent times but has played five Tests and taken 13 wickets. Off-spinner Omari Banks was given a run but his 10 Tests yielded a mere 28 wickets at average of 48.

Moore said while there were young spinners in the region, he believed they need to be inserted in ‘A’ team first before being given Tests duty.

“I’m sure there are young spinners around that are developing but it’s not the time to blood young players — whether there are spinners, batsmen or bowlers — in Test matches,”

Source:The News