West Indies name squad for ODI series against England

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming home ODI series against England, commencing on December 03 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

The squad, captained by Shai Hope, includes two uncapped players, Sherfane Rutherford and Matthew Forde, as well as notable returns and omissions.

The 15-member squad features a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, with a keen eye on building towards the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich makes a return to the one-day set-up, and Alzarri Joseph has been named as Hope’s deputy. Uncapped players Rutherford and Forde bring a fresh dynamic to the team.

Dowrich, with his impressive domestic performance, has earned a recall to the ODI squad after his last appearance in 2019 against Bangladesh. Similarly, Kjorn Ottley, the third-highest run-scorer in the domestic Super50 Cup, has also secured a spot in the squad.

Rutherford, known for his T20I contributions, impressed everyone with a maiden List A hundred, while Forde’s all-round skills at the West Indies Academy have earned him his first international call-up. The inclusion of these emerging talents signifies West Indies’ strategic focus on nurturing players for future competitions.

Players like Rovman Powell, Dominic Drakes, Kyle Mayers and Jayden Seales, who were part of the recent series against India, miss out on selection for the upcoming ODIs against England.

Further, Joseph’s appointment as vice-captain is based on his demonstrated maturity and leadership qualities during the recent CG United Super50 Cup. The selection committee, led by Desmond Haynes, believes in providing exposure and opportunities to potential future leaders in West Indies cricket.

First and second ODI will be held on December 3 and December 6 respectively at the same venue Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua while the third ODI will take place on December 9 at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

West Indies squad: Shai Hope (c), Alzarri Joseph (vc), Alick Athanaze, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Kjorn Ottley, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas.

Inputs taken from agencies