Massive blow for West Indies as Alzarri Joseph ruled out of India test tour; Replacement named

Alzarri Joseph has been ruled out of the India test tour with lower-back injury.

West Indies Cricket Team have been dealt with a massive blow ahead of their two-match test tour of India as pacer Alzaari Joseph has been ruled out. The right-arm pacer recently complained of discomfort in his back, and then scans revealed a degeneration of the previously resolved lower-back injury.

On Monday, 29th September, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced the development and drafted left-arm seamer Jediah Blades as a cover. The 23-year-old is currently busy with the T20I series between the West Indies and Nepal in Sharjah. He will be joining the test squad following conclusion of the three-match T20I series against Nepal on Tuesday.

Blades is yet to make his test debut for the West Indies, but has featured in three ODIs and five T20Is so far. CWI further revealed that all-rounder Jason Holder declined to be Alzarri Joseph’s replacement for the India test tour as he has a planned medical procedure.

“Alzarri Joseph has been ruled out of the upcoming test series against India due to a lower back injury. After complaints of discomfort, scans revealed a degeneration of the previously resolved lower back injury. Meanwhile, Jediah Blades who has been capped in One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals has been drafted in as cover for the two tests following the ongoing series against Nepal. Jason Holder declined selection as Joseph’s replacement for the series citing a planned medical procedure,” CWI’s statement read.

Updated West Indies squad for India test series

Roston Chase (C), Jomel Warrican (VC), Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Johann Layne, Jediah Blades, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales.

Notably, Alzarri Joseph’s ouster has severely affected the West Indies’ pace unit against India for the series. Last week, Shamar Joseph was ruled out of the series due to an injury and was replaced by uncapped seam-bowling all-rounder Johann Layne. In the current squad, Jayden Seales is the only pacer to have featured in more than 10 tests.

Meanwhile, West Indies tour of India 2025 will begin on October 2 with the first test at the Narendra Modi International Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. The second game will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi from October 10 to 14. This will be second series for both India and the West Indies in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-27.

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