Lara-less W-Indies for 1st Test 20 Mar 2005 By: James Nixon

Brian Lara has been left out of the 1st Test against South Africa after continued contract disputes with the West Indians Cricket Board.

Lara responded to his contract offer posing that six other players be selected too which the WICB considered unacceptable due to the ineligibility of their contracts.

This all meant that Lara didn't accept the offer which left the WICB with no choice but to leave him out of the squad.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been named captain with Courtney Browne as his deputy.

The full squad is as follows:

Wavell Hinds, Devon Smith, Donavon Pagon, Daren Ganga, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (capt), Narsingh Deonarine, Ryan Hinds, Courtney Browne (wk, vice-capt), Corey Collymore, Pedro Collins, Dwight Washington, Daren Powell, Jerome Taylor, Reon King.