– Joseph, Imlach make the cut; Thorne selected as development player
West Indies and Guyanese opening batsman Tagenarine Chanderpaul was a notable omission from the announced 15-member squad by the Cricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel for the tour of England in July, following a lean run of form during the Australian tour and Region 4-Day Championship.
Chanderpaul scraped 31 runs in his four test innings ‘Down Under’, and his poor run continued in the West Indies Regional 4-Day Championship, where he returned 323 runs in 12 innings with a solitary unbeaten century of 101, the highlight of his season. His average was a paltry 29.36, which is simply not good enough.
St. Kitts native Mikyle Louis, Chanderpaul’s replacement, had the distinction of being the leading run-scorer in the West Indies Championship with 682 runs at an average of 48.71. In the process, Louis racked up three centuries and four fifties, with the highest score of 130.
Chanderpaul’s compatriots, Shamar Joseph and Tevin Imlach, have been selected for the final roster. Notably, 19-year-old fast bowler Isai Thorne will travel with the squad as a development player, following impressive performances in his debut First Class season, taking 31 wickets at an average of 16.29 in his first eight matches.
Meanwhile, Kraigg Brathwaite will continue in his role as captain, with fast bowler Alzarri Joseph also retaining his vice captaincy.
Following the announcement of the squad, CWI Lead Selector, Dr. Desmond Haynes, stated in a release to the media, “The squad has been shaped with both experience and emerging talent, ensuring a strong balance as we face the challenge of playing in English conditions. Over the past year, our red-ball programme has continued to develop. Following our victory in the last Test in Australia in January, it is evident that we are seeing the fruits of that investment. Each player selected has earned their place through consistent performances and hard work. We are confident that this blend of seasoned players and emerging faces will perform admirably against England.”
Additionally, fast bowler Jayden Seales makes his return to the squad after missing the last Test Series against Australia due to injury, while experienced all-rounder Jason Holder has earned a recall with solid performances in English County cricket after making himself unavailable for the last tour.
Test matches between these two rivals date back to 1928, when the West Indies made their first trip to England. The teams now compete for the Richards Botham Trophy, named in honour of West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards and England’s Lord Ian Botham.
The West Indies’ last test match was a resounding victory in Australia earlier this year. The team is scheduled to arrive in England on June 23rd for a training camp at Tonbridge School, ahead of a 4-day warm-up match at Beckingham commencing on July 4th.
The West Indies are the current holders of the Richards Botham Trophy following the 1-0 Home Test Series win in March 2022.
The West Indies 15-member test squad reads: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva, 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.
The team management unit comprises Head Coach Andre Coley, Team Manager Rawl Lewis, Assistant Coaches Jimmy Adams, Rayon Griffith, and Shaun Tait, Physiotherapist Dr. Denis Byam, Strength & Conditioning Coach Ronald Rogers, Team Masseuse Fitzbert Alleyne, and Team Analyst Avenesh Seetaram.
Test Series Match Schedule
4-Day Warm-Up Match at Beckingham: Thursday, July 4th-7th
1st Test Match at Lord’s: Wednesday, July 10th-14th
2nd Test Match at Trent Bridge: Thursday, July 18th-22nd
3rd Test Match at Edgbaston: Friday, July 26th-30th
