Reuters
South Africa's AB de Villiers (left) watches the West Indies' Dwayne Bravo celebrate his dismissal on the third day of their first Test cricket match in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Barbados wicketkeeper/batsman Patrick Browne has been called up by the West Indies selectors to join the squad for the remainder of the current tour of South Africa.

In a dramatic turn of events on Thursday, Browne was batting solidly on 30 in a face-saving innings for Corey Collymore's XI against Dwayne Smith's team on the opening day of the Barbados four-day trial match at Briar Hall in the southern parish of Christ Church, when West Indies Cricket Board Development Officer Wendell Coppin went on to the field shortly after lunch to inform him that he was requested to pack his bags for Johannesburg.

Browne immediately retired and was warmly applauded by Smith's side as he left the field. By then Collymore's XI had reached 143 for seven. They were eventually bowled out for 196 and Smith's side raced to 132 without loss by the close.

Need to concentrate

"I was very shocked," Browne said as he prepared to leave the ground for home. "I hope to do my best and stay in the team. I am batting pretty good, but I just need to concentrate a bit longer. My wicketkeeping is up to scratch and everything should go well."

WICB corporate secretary Tony Deyal said from his office in Antigua that West Indies team manager Clive Lloyd had requested a back-up keeper to Denesh Ramdin because of the hectic schedule of the tour which includes three Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches, and runs until February 3. Deyal said Browne was expected to leave for South Africa as early as yesterday, but no later than tomorrow.

It is an early birthday gift for Browne, who turns 26, co-incidentally on January 26.

Since making his first-class debut in 2001, Browne has played 44 matches, including 19 for Barbados. He has scored 1,623 runs at an average of 22.23 with a highest of 83, while taking 92 catches and bringing off five stumpings.

Browne has been a regular member of the West Indies 'A' team in recent years.