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Hooper pulls out of Windies Test squad
April 08, 2003 12:05 IST
Former West Indies captain Carl Hooper on Monday pulled out of the squad to face Australia in the home Test series starting on Thursday.
A West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) spokeswoman said Hooper, replaced by Brian Lara as captain in March, had changed his mind and would not be playing against the world champions.
"This has been a difficult decision but one I felt must be made given the developments in recent weeks and the new direction the team is heading," Hooper said in a statement from Guyana.
"Though it's tempting to play, it would curtail the development of a younger player and, as I see it, also a backward step for West Indies cricket."
The squad announced in March included wholesale changes from the one that failed to progress past the opening group stage in the World Cup.
All rounder Hooper (36) has played 102 Tests with a batting average of 36.46 and 49.42 with the ball.
He took over as skipper when Lara stepped down three years ago after the West Indies were white-washed on a tour of New Zealand.
Australia will play four Tests and seven one-day internationals against the West Indies, starting on April 10.
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