KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – West Indies have axed opener Rajendra Chandrika for the third Test against India starting next Tuesday in St Lucia, and have recalled Shai Hope to the 14-member squad.
The right-handed Chandrika has scored 53 runs from his four innings in the current series, to extend his misery at the highest level, where he has only managed 140 runs in five Tests at an average of 14.
Rajendra Chandrika
He suffered an inauspicious Test debut last year against Australia when he scored a pair at Sabina Park and enjoyed no improved fortunes in the drawn second Test against India which ended Wednesday here, making five and one.
Chandrika’s place has been taken by Hope who though promising, has also struggled at international level, with only 171 runs in six Tests at an average of 15.
However, Hope pressed his case to selectors recently when he carved out an unbeaten 118 for the WICB President’s XI in a tour game against the Indians at Warner Park.
The 22-year-old is the only change to the squad which will seek to square the series when the third Test bowls off at the Darren Sammy National Stadium.
They fell behind 0-1 in the four-Test series when they slumped to an innings and 92-run defeat in the opening Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
However, they rebounded strongly in the second Test here to pull off a draw, batting the entire final day to amass 388 for six, when they seemed poised to slide to another innings defeat.
The fourth Test is scheduled for Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad from August 18-22.
SQUAD – Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite (vice-captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Leon Johnson, Alzarri Joseph, Marlon Samuels.
