(CMC) – Fast bowlers Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph are returning home early from West Indies’ failed World Cup qualifying campaign, to prepare for the Test series against India beginning next week in Dominica.
The duo were part of the Shai Hope-led side which won the first two qualifying matches in Zimbabwe but then lost the next three, to miss out on the grand showpiece in India later this year.
Two matches – against Oman and Sri Lanka – still remain in the tournament but chief selector Desmond Haynes, said it was important to have the two players back especially since both are expected to feature in all three formats against India. “Jason and Alzarri are two of our leading bowlers in all formats,” said Haynes.
“We have a full schedule for the upcoming series against India, where we begin the new ICC World Test Championship, then followed by the CG United ODIs and the five T20Is.
“Therefore, we had dialogue, and it was felt the best move at this time is to have two of our leading bowlers return early from Zimbabwe.”
Joseph has been the leading wicket-taker for West Indies in the tournament with eight wickets at 32 runs apiece while Holder picked up six at 35 apiece, while averaging 36 with the bat and hitting a single fifty. Both are expected to feature in the two-Test series against India which gets underway July 12 at Windsor Park, and continues at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain starting July 20. West Indies also face India in three One-Day Internationals from July 27 to August 1, before clashing in five Twenty20 Internationals from August 3-13. A West Indies training squad has been undergoing a preparation camp for the Test series since last Friday at Coolidge Cricket Ground here.
