WI vs IND: Rahkeem Cornwall recalled as West Indies announce squad for first Test vs India

West Indies on Saturday announced the squad for the first match of the 2-Test Series against Rohit Sharma-led India. The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Senior Men’s Selection Panel named a 13-member squad and two traveling reserves for the match which will be played at Windsor Park in Dominica from July 12 to 16.

Jamaica-born 22-year-old left-hand batter Kirk McKenzie and fellow southpaw Alick Athanaze, 24, have got maiden Test call-ups. Towering Leeward Islands allrounder Rahkeem Cornwall, who played his last Test in November 2021, and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican who was in the squad which toured Zimbabwe but missed West Indies' tour of South Africa in February, have been recalled.

Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie is unavailable for selection as he is undergoing rehabilitation from injury. However, the talented pace unit is the highlighting of the 13-strong squad. The likes of Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder form an incredible pace unit.

“We were very impressed with the approach to batsmanship of McKenzie and Athanaze on the recent 'A’ Team tour of Bangladesh. These are two young players who got good scores and played with great maturity, and we believe they deserve an opportunity,” chief selector Desmond Haynes.

“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.”

Haynes added: “We had Jayden Seales here in the camp and he has made good progress during his rehab from surgery. However, we felt he is not yet quite ready to return, and we don’t want to risk him at this stage. Kyle Mayers was also considered but he has some niggles, and the precaution is not to have him in the rigors of a five-day match at this stage.

“Looking ahead to the series we know it will be a challenging one as we start the new cycle of the ICC Test Match Championship. We want to build and improve and strive to move up the ladder.”

The Kraigg Brathwaite-led West Indies squad will travel to Dominica on Sunday following their ongoing pre-series camp at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. They will have training sessions on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning in the build-up to the match.

West Indies squad for first Test vs 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

Traveling Reserves: Tevin Imlach, Akeem Jordan