West Indies announce 13-member squad for first test against India

West Indies will be hosting India for 2 match test, 3-match ODI, and 5-match T20 series.

West Indies have announced a 13-member squad for the first test against India at Windsor Park in Dominica. West Indies camp is getting over in the next two days in Antigua and after that, the team will fly to Dominica for the first test scheduled on 12th July. West Indies have picked Kraigg Brathwaite as the leader of the 13-member team to take on India. Left-hand batters Kirk Mckenzie and Alick Athanaze have earned their maiden call-up in the test team. All-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall and Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican have made a comeback in the West Indian test squad. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie is under rehabilitation so misses out on the squad. 

Desmond Haynes explains WI selection

West Indies chief selector Desmond Haynes said, “We are very impressed with the approach to batsmanship of Mckenzie and Athanaze on the recent ‘A’ team tour of Bangladesh. These are two young players who got good scores and played with great maturity, and we believe they deserve an opportunity”. Talking about Motie’s injury Haynes added, “We are without Motie, who is doing the rehabilitation, and this has created an opportunity for Warrican and Cornwall in the spin bowling department. They have both played at Test match level before and are capable of doing the job”. Tevin Imlach and Akeem Jordan will be traveling along with the squad as reserve players. 

West Indies have included Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua DeSilva, and Jermaine Blackwood in the batting order. Windies' pace bowling looks threatening as Kemar Roach, Jason Holder, Shanon Gabriel, and Alzarri Joseph will be blazing all guns against the Indian batting lineup. This series will start the World Test Championship cycle 2023-25 for both teams. West Indies will host India for a 2-match test series. The first test is scheduled at Windsor Park, Dominica while the second will be played at Queen Park Oval in Trinidad & Tobago. After the test series, both teams will be taking on each other in the 3-match ODIs and 5-match T20 series. India already announced their 16-member squad. 

West Indies test squad for the Test series

Karigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood (vc), Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk Mckenzie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.

Reserves - Tevin Imlach, Akeem Jordan