Sunil Narine

Calcutta: After a sterling performance for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), champions in the just-ended IPL, young Sunil Narine has moved a step closer to realising his “dream” of playing Test cricket for the West Indies.

Late on Wednesday, the selectors chose the 24-year-old as the injured Kemar Roach’s replacement in the Test squad, which is touring England.

An off-spinner for a quick is anything but a like-for-like replacement, but the selectors obviously recognised that Narine had been unplayable in IPL-V, except in the final, when the Chennai Super Kings’ Suresh Raina went after him.

Narine finished with 24 wickets, one behind topper Morne Morkel. He had a far better economy rate (5.47 to the South African’s 7.19), though. Plus, he was adjudged the player of the edition.

It was a hugely popular choice.

Down 0-2, the series has been lost by the West Indies, but the third and final Test remains, at Edgbaston, from June 7. Three ODIs and a T20 International will be played after that.

Narine had been at home in Arima, around 45 minutes away from Port of Spain, when chief selector Clyde Butts called to give him the “very pleasing news.”

“Yeah, it was very pleasing news... Made me and my parents and sister absolutely happy... I’m grateful to the IPL and KKR for giving me the platform to perform,” Narine told The Telegraph on Thursday.

Asked if he’d celebrated by, perhaps, going out for a meal, Narine replied: “Actually, I picked up my kit bag and went to play for my club!”

Quite remarkable that.

Was he excited at the prospect of making his Test debut within a few days?

“I’m definitely excited at getting this call-up, but there’s no guarantee that I will be capped at Edgbaston. However, I’m hopeful,” Narine said.

Where conditions in England go, Narine has had limited exposure, only as a Trinidad & Tobago colts player, but he’s up for the “challenge.”

Narine (like all the overseas players, except Shakib-al Hasan) missed Tuesday’s civic reception in the city for KKR, but explained that he’d been away from home for a “long time” and, so, had to leave the day after Sunday’s final.

While Narine is looking for his first Test cap, he has already turned out for the West Indies in eight ODIs and two T20 Internationals, all his appearances coming in the 2011-12 season.

Narine leaves for England on Saturday.

Success in the IPL has also done wonders for South Africa’s Faf du Plessis, who caught the eye while turning out for the Super Kings. Indeed, he has got a maiden T20 call-up.

The 27-year-old has, of course, played 21 ODIs.