New Delhi. The Cricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel has announced a 13-man squad for the first Test against India starting July 12 at Windsor Park in Dominica. Kraigg Brathwaite will captain the West Indies team at the start of the new World Test Championship cycle (2023-25).
Two players will debut-
Two left-handed batsmen, Alyque Athanaz and Kirk McKenzie, will make their debut for the West Indies team in the first Test against India. The former player has so far played 30 First Class (FC) matches, scoring 1,825 runs including two centuries.
McKenzie, on the other hand, has experience in nine FC games, scoring 591 runs including a century. Athanaz and McKenzie recently scored 220 and 209 for the West Indies A team during the three-match unofficial Test series against Bangladesh away from home. West Indies-A won the series 1–0.
The return of this all-rounder-
All-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall is returning for the first time since his last Test in November 2021. He has taken 34 wickets in nine Tests so far. It is worth remembering that Cornwall made his debut in India’s last Test series in the West Indies in 2019.
Two players passing through injury-
Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican is also making a comeback into the team after being ruled out for the tour of South Africa earlier this year. However, another left arm spinner Gudakesh Moti was not available for selection due to injury. He is currently undergoing rehab. Jaden Seales and Kyle Mayers also failed to make the cut due to rehab and minor issues.
West Indies team against India
Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood (vc), Alick Athanazhe, Tagnarin Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Ramon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.