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In Singapore over the past week, Ricardo Powell spectacularly discredited the tired selection policy of recycling failures, to use Sir Garry Sobers’ fitting phrase.

In a city half-way across the world where, like Singapore, cricket is an equally insignificant pastime indulged in by expatriates from lands where it is an obsession, the West Indies have a more extended chance over the next week to let some of their other eager young players show what they are made of.

For the DCM Toronto Cricket Festival, as their series of three matches each against India and Pakistan is called, they have introduced the left-handed batsman Chris Gayle, at 19 a year younger than fellow Jamaican Powell, and pace bowler Corey Collymore, 21.

They join two left-handed batsmen, Wavell Hinds, 24, and on his first senior tour, and Adrian Griffith, 28, on his second, three years after his first to Australia. Both were in Singapore but Hinds had only one of the three matches and Griffith none.

The West Indies start with back-to-back matches this weekend against India at the small but impressively appointed Toronto Cricket, Skating and Squash Club.

It is a continuation of the Singapore Challenge where they beat India in the qualifying round and then in the final.

The outfield is well-grassed and immaculately manicured and the pitch hard after a hot summer.

The West Indies, still shaking off the after-effects of jet- lag after their 24-hour journey from Singapore the day before, were delighted with the environment.

Captain Brian Lara indicated at yesterday’s media conference that everyone would get an opportunity this time.

“The most important thing is to get them out there playing cricket,” Lara said.

“We’ve not only got this tournament in Canada but then to Bangladesh and Sharjah. The more experience we give the inexperienced players, the better it’s going to be for us.”

They have the ideal opportunity against an Indian team missing six of its best and most seasoned players.

Captain Sachin Tendulkar is resting his chronic back injury, vice-captain Ajay Jadeja tore his right calf muscle in a first round match against Zimbabwe in Singapore and former captain Mohammed Azharuddin is recovering from a shoulder operation.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble, fast bowler Javagal Srinath and wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia are being rested.

There is the incentive of CAN$20 000 winner-take-all for each match but if they can’t trust the young players in this case they won’t trust them at all. After the experience of the World Cup, this is unlikely.

The teams:

West Indies: Brian Lara (captain), Sherwin Campbell, Ridley Jacobs, Jimmy Adams, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Wavell Hinds, Ricardo Powell, Adrian Griffith, Chris Gayle, Hendy Bryan, Merv Dillon, Reon King, Courtney Walsh.

India: Saurav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid, Vinod Kambli, Robin Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Debasis Mohanty, Venkatesh Prasad, Jacob Martin, Nihil Chopra, Sandgoppan Ramesh, Amay Khurasiya, Mannava Prasad, Ajit Pandari.

Umpires: David Orchard (South Africa), Steve Dunne (New Zealand), Daryl Harper (Australia). Match referee: Peter van der Merwe (South Africa).