BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Daren Powell came under the microscope last Friday, when he was selected in the West Indies 14-member squad for the opening Test against England, starting on February 4 in his native Jamaica.

The 30-year-old West Indies fast bowler has captured 79 wickets at 46.55 apiece in 32 Tests, after he made his debut against New Zealand at Bridgetown seven years ago.

Last year, Powell snared a mere 19 wickets in nine Tests, at an average of 58.10, getting a wicket every 98 balls.

"I can understand the concerns about Daren," Chairman of Selectors Clyde Butts said. "It was a question raised by the selectors, but I think if you look at the way he bowled in New Zealand, particularly Dunedin, it certainly looked like he was going to bowl us to victory in that Test match.

"He bowled pretty well, and we thought since he was coming back from a reasonable Test series, that we will start with him, and if he fails, we can say you have had a fair run and it is time to take a break."

Butts said Powell's indiscretions on the field in New Zealand were glaring and the selectors were concerned about some of his antics.

During the second Test, Powell was extremely fortunate to have escaped the ire of match referee Javagal Srinath, when he ran through the crease on delivery and threw the ball towards advancing batsman Brendon McCullum in the second Test at Napier.

He later apologised to the New Zealand team for the incident.

"I did not see it because I was travelling, but when I heard about it, I thought it was bad for the team, West Indies cricket and the people of the Caribbean," Butts said. "I was actually surprised that no action was taken on the whole matter."

Third One-day

In the third one-day international at Wellington, an error by umpire Mark Benson triggered another ill-advised reaction from Powell after Ross Taylor was ruled 'not-out' on a clear leg-side deflection off the glove to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

Powell dug his next delivery into the middle of the pitch and the ball sailed over the batsman and the keeper on its way to the boundary for five wides, as New Zealand chased a modest 128 for victory.

"(His behaviour) is one of the things that we discussed at our meeting," Butts said. "We agreed that if we are going to play Daren, we must speak to him, and (he must be) spoken to strongly about his attitude."

Powell has also collected 70 wickets at 31.60 apiece in 54 one-day internationals after playing his first match seven years ago.