ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Left-handed opener John Campbell has been recalled for the West Indies Men’s squad for the first Apex Test match against England after being dropped from the side almost a year ago, while Shamarh Brooks has also made a comeback.
Fast bowler Anderson Phillip, meantime, is poised for his Test debut after being included in the Kraigg Brathwaite-led squad announced yesterday by the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel.
“I expect us to be very competitive against England. This should be a very exciting series, with a lot of players who are out to make their mark. We have a squad that has some experienced players, as well as some exciting young players and we expect them to equip themselves well and do the job,” said lead selector the Most Honourable Dr Desmond Haynes.
Both Campbell and Phillip were impressive in the first two rounds of the current West Indies Championship.
The 28-year-old Campbell hit 213 runs for Jamaica Scorpions at an average of 53.25, including 127 against Barbados Pride at Kensington Oval last week, a performance which would have swayed selectors.
The Jamaican had played 15 Tests before being dropped following Sri Lanka’s tour of the Caribbean last April, after making his Test debut during England’s tour of the Caribbean in 2019.
Phillip has taken 12 wickets at an average of 14.25 per wicket for Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, with best figures of 5-82 against Jamaica Scorpions.
“Anderson Phillip bowled extremely well and was very impressive in the first two rounds of the West Indies Championship and we decided to give him an opportunity in the Test squad to face England. He has been around the squad before in white ball cricket, so he has some experience at the international level,” Haynes said of the 25-year-old who made his international debut last March against Sri Lanka when he played one One-Day International.
Meantime, left-arm fast-bowling allrounder Raymon Reifer has been overlooked despite an outstanding start to the West Indies Championship.
Off-spinning all-rounders Roston Chase and Rahkeem Cornwall, Shai Hope, Shannon Gabriel and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican were also omitted. All four had toured Sri Lanka last November for the two-Test series in which West Indies suffered a whitewash.
The first Apex Test will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here from March 8-12, following a warm-up match at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) from March 1-4.
The West Indies squad will assemble in Antigua from February 25 for a training camp ahead of the Apex Test Series.
SQUAD – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales.
