West Indies unveil Test squad for the England tour; Jason Holder and Jayden Seales return

The West Indies have announced their squad for the upcoming Test series against England, set to begin on July 10 at Lord’s in London. The three-match series will also feature games in Nottingham and Birmingham. Prior to the series, the Caribbean team will engage in a three-day warm-up match against a County Select XI at Beckenham starting on July 3.

Key inclusions: Jason Holder and Jayden Seales

Star all-rounder Jason Holder and fast bowler Jayden Seales have been named in the 15-man squad. Both players missed the previous Test series against Australia in January. Holder, who was recently sidelined from the ongoing T20 World Cup due to an unspecified injury, has shown promising red-ball form for Barbados and Worcestershire this year, paving the way for his return. He is expected to be fit for the Test series against England.

Seales, recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Australia tour, has already found success in England this summer. Playing for Sussex, he is the joint-highest wicket-taker in Division Two of the County Championship.

Bowling arsenal strengthened

In addition to Holder and Seales, the West Indies have named Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, and Kemar Roach among the seamers available for selection. This bolsters their bowling attack with a mix of experience and young talent.

Changes in the batting line-up

The squad sees a notable change in the batting department. Tagenarine Chanderpaul has been dropped after a disappointing series against Australia, where he scored just 31 runs in four innings. Mikyle Louis, the leading run-scorer in the 2023-24 season of the West Indies Championship, replaces Chanderpaul. If selected, Louis could become the first player from St Kitts to represent the West Indies in Test cricket.

Developmental focus: Isai Thorne

The squad also includes Isai Thorne, a 19-year-old fast bowler from Guyana, as a development player. Thorne, who took 31 wickets in the domestic season, will gain valuable experience traveling with the team, although he is not part of the main 15-man squad.

Also READ: England legend James Anderson announces retirement from Test cricket

Preparation and historical context

The touring squad comprises only three players—Alzarri, Shamar, and Gudakesh Motie—who are currently participating in the T20 World Cup. These players will join the rest of the squad in England on June 23 for a training camp at Tonbridge School.

The West Indies have not won a Test series on English soil since 1988. However, they are buoyed by their victory in the most recent Test series between the two teams in early 2022.

West Indies squad for the Test series against England

Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Jason Holder, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph (vice-captain), Shamar Joseph, Mikyle Louis, Zachary McCaskie, Kirk McKenzie, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales and Kevin Sinclair
Development player: Isai Thorne

Also READ: Cricket West Indies announces home fixtures; to host South Africa before T20 World Cup 2024

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June 05, 2024 at 09:37AM