West Indies name seven uncapped players for Australia Tests
Coach Desmond Haynes places hope in new talent identified during strong red-ball programme
22 December 2023 - 15:03
byReuters
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Jason Holder of West Indies will be playing franchise cricket during the Test series against Australia. Picture: ASHLEY ALLEN/GETTY IMAGES
West Indies will blood at least four debutants in the first Test against Australia in January after naming seven uncapped players in a 15-man squad for the two-match series.
Languishing at eighth in the world rankings, the Caribbeans’ hopes of ending a 20-year losing streak against Australia appear faint with all-rounders Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers electing to skip the series to play franchise T20 cricket.
Fast bowler Jayden Seales, meanwhile, is sidelined with a shoulder injury.
“The squad has been affected by the unavailability of some key players,” lead selector Desmond Haynes said. “However, we have had a very strong red-ball programme being run over the past year, which has unearthed significant talent throughout the region.”
The uncapped players in the Kraigg Brathwaite-captained squad are batsman Zachary McCaskie, wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach, all-rounders Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge and Kevin Sinclair, and fast bowlers Akeem Jordan and Shamar Joseph.
Australia’s least experienced player in the 11 that thrashed Pakistan by 360 runs in the first Test in Perth on Sunday is 26-Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
The West Indies series starts at Adelaide Oval on January 17 before moving to the Gabba in Brisbane from January 25.
Australia completed their seventh consecutive whitewash of the West Indies in Tests in the last home summer with wins in Perth and Adelaide.
The Caribbeans’ last Test win over Australia came in their 3-1 home series loss in 2003, while their last victory in Australia was in 1997.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
West Indies name seven uncapped players for Australia Tests
Coach Desmond Haynes places hope in new talent identified during strong red-ball programme
West Indies will blood at least four debutants in the first Test against Australia in January after naming seven uncapped players in a 15-man squad for the two-match series.
Languishing at eighth in the world rankings, the Caribbeans’ hopes of ending a 20-year losing streak against Australia appear faint with all-rounders Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers electing to skip the series to play franchise T20 cricket.
Fast bowler Jayden Seales, meanwhile, is sidelined with a shoulder injury.
“The squad has been affected by the unavailability of some key players,” lead selector Desmond Haynes said. “However, we have had a very strong red-ball programme being run over the past year, which has unearthed significant talent throughout the region.”
The uncapped players in the Kraigg Brathwaite-captained squad are batsman Zachary McCaskie, wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach, all-rounders Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge and Kevin Sinclair, and fast bowlers Akeem Jordan and Shamar Joseph.
Australia’s least experienced player in the 11 that thrashed Pakistan by 360 runs in the first Test in Perth on Sunday is 26-Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
The West Indies series starts at Adelaide Oval on January 17 before moving to the Gabba in Brisbane from January 25.
Australia completed their seventh consecutive whitewash of the West Indies in Tests in the last home summer with wins in Perth and Adelaide.
The Caribbeans’ last Test win over Australia came in their 3-1 home series loss in 2003, while their last victory in Australia was in 1997.
West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Alzarri Joseph, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua DaSilva, Akeem Jordan, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph, Zachary McCaskie.
Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.