West Indies has referred to as up the uncapped pair of Jamaican Kirk McKenzie and Dominican Alick Athanaze for the opening Test in opposition to India beginning subsequent Friday in Dominica.
Both are left-handed upper-order batter whereas Athanaze may also present an choice together with his proper arm off-breaks on his dwelling monitor of Windsor Park.
The 22-year-old opener McKenzie had scores of 91 and 86 in the course of the West Indies ‘A’ tour of Bangladesh in May whereas Athanaze, batting at quantity 4, had an 85 and a forty five in the identical sequence.
“We were very impressed with the approach to the batsmanship of McKenzie and Athanaze on the recent ‘A’ Team tour of Bangladesh,” stated lead selector Desmond Haynes.
“These are two young players who got good scores and played with great maturity, and we believe they deserve an opportunity,” he added.
There are recollects for all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall, who performed his final Test in November 2021, and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican who was within the squad which toured Zimbabwe however missed the final tour of South Africa in February.
Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie is unavailable for choice as he’s present process rehabilitation from harm.
“We are without Motie, who is doing his rehabilitation, and this has created an opportunity for Warrican and Cornwall in the spin bowling department. They have both played at Test match level before and are capable of doing the job,” stated Haynes.
The India mini-tour consists of two Test matches with the second Test in Port of Spain, Trinidad from July 20-24.
The groups will then face off in three one-day internationals, the opening two in Barbados and the ultimate match again in Trinidad.
The tour concludes with 5 T20 internationals performed in Trinidad, Guyana after which the ultimate pair of matches in Lauderhill, Florida on August 12 and 13.
West Indies squad for first Test v India:
Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Jermaine Blackwood (Vice Captain),Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com