Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced a 13-man squad for the first Test against India on Saturday, July 8. Star all-rounder Kyle Mayers has been left out of the squad due to his recent involvement in the ICC World Cup Qualifier 2023. Batsmen Kirk McKenzie and Alyque Athanaz have been included in the squad for the first time, while all-rounder Rakhim Cornwall returns to the Test side after a long absence.
After missing out on ICC World Cup 2023 qualification, West Indies will turn their attention to red-ball cricket with a two-match Test series starting July 12. star all rounder jason holder And fast bowler Alzarri Joseph was recalled early from the ICC Qualifiers to join the team. The pair missed the last game against Sri Lanka, which they lost by eight wickets.
The 30-year-old Kyle Mayers was part of West Indies’ last Test match against South Africa in February this year. He took six wickets in two innings in the last Test against the Proteas and has impressive figures in red-ball cricket. Spin all-rounder Cornwall has been included in the squad for the first time since November 2021, while left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican also returns due to injury to Gudakesh Moti.
Alyque Athanage and Kirk McKenzie are in contention to make their Test debuts in the first match after impressive performances with the West Indies A team on their tour of Bangladesh. Chief selector Desmond Haynes revealed that the selectors have been impressed with the recent performances of both and said that both the batsmen deserve this opportunity.
“We were very impressed with McKenzie and Athanaz’s batting approach on the recent ‘A’ team tour of Bangladesh. Desmond Haynes said, “These are two young players who got good scores and played with great maturity and we believe they deserve an opportunity.”
West Indies squad for the first Test: Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood (VC), Alick Athanaz, Tagnarin Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva (WK), Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Ramon Reifer, kemar roachjomel warrican
Travel Reservation: Tevin Imlach, Akeem Jordan