West Indies cricket have released the squads for their upcoming T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka, starting on October 13. With some major players opting out, the team will feature several uncapped players eager to make their mark.
Key players missing from the squad
The West Indies squad will be missing several of their star players, including Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Akeal Hosein, and Shimron Hetmyer. These players have opted out of the Sri Lanka tour due to a need for rest or rehabilitation from injuries. Head coach Darren Sammy expressed confidence in the squad’s depth, suggesting that the absence of experienced players presents an opportunity for emerging talent to step up.
“The Sri Lanka series gives us a great chance to explore our bench strength and evaluate players in varied roles, especially with a number of senior players unavailable due to the need for rest and recovery from injuries. We are confident that our squad will compete well against Sri Lanka,” Sammy stated as quoted by windiescricket.com.
Fresh faces earn call-ups
Terrance Hinds and Shamar Springer are among the new faces in the T20I squad, thanks to their strong performances in the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Hinds, a right-arm fast bowler, claimed eight wickets across as many matches at an average of 30.43. Springer, another right-arm pacer, impressed by taking 12 wickets in nine matches at an average of 18.
Jewel Andrew, a 17-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, has been named in the ODI squad after showing promise in domestic cricket. With only three List A matches under his belt, Andrew has already scored 165 runs at an average of 55, making him an exciting prospect for the future.
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Darren Sammy’s vision for the tour
Sammy emphasized that this tour is an opportunity not only to assess new players but also to experiment with team strategies as the West Indies work to build a stronger ODI lineup. He expressed excitement about the inclusion of young talents like Jewel Andrew.
“As we continue to shape our ODI squad, this tour presents a vital opportunity to test new strategies and provide chances to promising players. We are excited to see youngsters like Jewel Andrew, who has earned his selection and is an exciting future prospect,” Sammy added.
West Indies squads for the Sri Lanka tour:
T20I Squad: Rovman Powell (c), Roston Chase (vc), Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Andre Fletcher, Terrance Hinds, Alzarri Joseph, Shai Hope, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer.
ODI Squad: Shai Hope (c), Alzarri Joseph (vc), Jewel Andrew, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.