West Indies will blood at least four debutants in the first Test against Australia next month after naming seven uncapped players in a 15-man squad for the two-match series.
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 for franchise T20 cricket.
Pacer Jayden Seales is sidelined with a shoulder injury.
“The squad has been affected by the unavailability of some key players,” lead selector Desmond Haynes said. “However, a very strong red-ball programme being run over the past year has unearthed significant talent.”
The uncapped players in the squad —to be led by Kraigg Brathwaite — for the series starting at the Adelaide Oval on January 17 are batsman Zachary McCaskie, keeper Tevin Imlach, all-rounders Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge and Kevin Sinclair and quicks Akeem Jordan and Shamar Joseph.
The West Indies’ last Test win over Australia came in their 3-1 home series loss in 2003, while their last victory in Australia was in 1997.
Australia’s least experienced player in the XI that thrashed Pakistan by 360 runs in the first Test in Perth on Sunday is 26-Test-old wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Slots open for Stokes and Archer
Tarouba: All-rounder Ben Stokes’ match-winning prowess and Jofra Archer’s “box-office pace” are a must for England in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the two injured players will have places kept open in the team for them, said white-ball coach Matthew Mott.
Stokes is recovering from a knee operation, while Archer has not featured for England since March because of an elbow injury.
“Ben, aside from his incredible match-winning ability in every department, gives us that ability to have a seam bowler in your top six that gives you so many options with your team balance...It makes selection a hell of a lot easier,” Mott said. “In terms of Jofra, you’ve just got absolute box-office pace... bowl any over in the innings. Him on the park is massive, everyone would agree with that.”
With inputs from PTI
