West Indies has announced its T20I and ODI squads ahead of the tour of Sri Lanka with several great changes and a host of exciting new faces.
T20I Squad Updates
Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, and Akeal Hosein, for personal reasons, have themselves ruled out of the T20I team. Upon their lack, opening batsman Evin Lewis, who last played a T20I during the 2022 World Cup, has been reintroduced into the side, much the same as he was during the ODI leg of the tour.
Brandon King also returns, after missing out on the T20 World Cup and CPL 2024, although due to a side injury. An allrounder from Trinbago Knight Riders, Terrance Hinds, and Shamar Springer of the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, join the team in Russell's absence. The duo was impressive for their teams in CPL 2024-this is their first international call.
Hinds bowls well under pressure, and Springer was the tournament's top wicket-taker in a spin-friendly CPL, taking 12 wickets at an economy rate of 9.39. His stock of slow balls could be valuable on Sri Lanka's slower pitches.
Rovman Powell will captain the T20I side, with Roston Chase vice-captain, as he has been awarded a new central contract with Cricket West Indies. "It would be a tour of assessment," said coach Daren Sammy, who was aware of the absence of some senior players.
"This tour to Sri Lanka gives us a chance to assess our depth. I do feel this team can match it closely," said Sammy.
Interestingly, Johnson Charles, outstanding as the all-round batter for St Lucia Kings in CPL 2024, was ignored. Andre Fletcher will be the backup opener for Lewis and King. Alick Athanaze is also an option for top order. Finisher Sherfane Rutherford is returning after taking personal reasons to step back for CPL 2024.
A set of exciting players in this squad, most notably, Gudakesh Motie is the sole frontline spinner, and Chase will support him along with another all-rounder who did splendidly recently while playing for Jaffna Kings in LPL. Alzarri Joseph returns after a break and is picked while Obed McCoy is left out.
West Indies T20I Squad
Rovman Powell (capt), Roston Chase (vice-capt), Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Andre Fletcher, Terrance Hinds, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer
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ODI Squad Gets Jewel Andrew
Jewel Andrew is savoring the glory of inclusion in the West Indies ODI squad for the three-match series to be played in Pallekele. He can emerge as the youngest West Indian to debut in ODI cricket with this opportunity, alongside legends Derek Sealy and Garry Sobers.
Though Andrew has played just three List A matches and seven matches in the CPL, he has already caught the eyeball of West Indies greats, one of them being his CPL coach Shivnarine Chanderpaul. He made his entrance into the CPL with an unbeaten 50 against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, with bowlers like Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi in the opposing team.
This series provides an opportunity to assess our strategies and also allows the young players to participate, said Sammy. We are also highly excited about some of the young players, such as Jewel Andrew, who has been promising.
Hope retains the captaincy of the ODI, and Alzarri Joseph joins as his vice-captain. Matthew Forde returns to ODI after doing well with Dambulla Aura in LPL, having been left out of the T20I squad.
Two specialists have been retained in the ODI squad, in the form of Hayden Walsh Jr and Gudakesh Motie. Alick Athanaze and Keacy Carty, who featured in the newly announced ODI squad for Australia, have also been retained. Carty was sensational in CPL 2024, scoring 246 runs in ten innings at an average of 30.75 and a strike rate of 125.51.
West Indies ODI Squad
Shai Hope (capt), Alzarri Joseph (vice-capt), Jewel Andrew, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr
The West Indies' white-ball tour of Sri Lanka begins October 13 and will go until October 26. Fans look forward to seeing how this new team fares against their host!
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