Cricket West Indies (CWI), on Friday announced the squad for the first of the two-match Test series at home against Sri Lanka starting from 21st March 2021. This will be the first Test series at home for the West Indies since August 2019.
The home side have mix experience in their last 8 Test matches, where they won 4 and lost as many. Interestingly, in the last 20 Test matches, the West Indian side has not drawn a single match they played. Meanwhile, they will play their next Test Match against Sri Lanka and the hosts have already announced the Squad for first Test.
Jason Holder will no longer be the skipper as opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite has been given the captaincy duties for the longest format of the game. Kraigg Braithwaite has led West Indies five times before as well in Tests, but this will be his first series as a full-time captain of the team.
“It is good to be able to put together a Test squad with a number of players coming off very good performances in their last series in Bangladesh. Very encouraging. It is a fantastic opportunity to build on the good work that was done in Bangladesh. It is very important to continue the process of working hard, playing with great passion, playing with determination and a great desire to succeed. Doing that consistently will bring us the right results,” Lead Selector Roger Harper said.
Harper, former West Indies spinner, also lauded the new faces like Kyle Mayers, Nkrumah Bonner, Jomel Warrican and Joshua Da Silva who helped West Indies beat Bangladesh.
“A number of players seized the opportunity that the tour of Bangladesh presented and booked a place for themselves in the Test team for this series. This now means that there is keen competition for places which should drive better individual performances and that of the team. I also think that these players are looking forward to displaying their skills on home soil,” Harper added.
West Indies Test Squad for 1st Test:
Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood (VC), Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican