Cricket West Indies (CWI), on March 12, 2021, announced the West Indies squad for the first Test match of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. The two Tests will be played on March 21 and March 29, 2021, and both the games will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua.
Earlier, the CWI had announced that opener Kraigg Brathwaite will replace Jason Holder as the full-time Test captain, especially after he led an under-strength West Indies team to a 2-0 Test series win over Bangladesh in their own backyard.
Kraigg Brathwaite led West Indies to Test series victory in Bangladesh. Image-Twitter
That team has a lot of new and young names as several first-choice players including Jason Holder and Shimron Hetmyer refused to tour Bangladesh owing to the Coronavirus pandemic concerns in the Asian nation.
Darren Bravo And Jason Holder Return; Jermaine Blackwood Named Vice-Captain Of West Indies Test Team
The West Indies squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Antigua features several players who recently participated in the 2-0 victorious Test series in Bangladesh. Two senior players who missed the Bangladesh tour- Jason Holder and Darren Bravo, were included in this squad as well.
Jason Holder. Image-Twitter
Kraigg Braithwaite has led West Indies five times before as well in Tests, but this will be his first series as a full-time captain of the team.
“It is good to be able to put together a Test squad with a number of players coming off very good performances in their last series in Bangladesh. Very encouraging. It is a fantastic opportunity to build on the good work that was done in Bangladesh. It is very important to continue the process of working hard, playing with great passion, playing with determination and a great desire to succeed. Doing that consistently will bring us the right results,” Lead Selector Roger Harper said.
Kraigg Brathwaite. Image-Twitter
Harper, former West Indies spinner, also lauded the new faces like Kyle Mayers, Nkrumah Bonner, Jomel Warrican and Joshua Da Silva who helped West Indies beat Bangladesh.
“A number of players seized the opportunity that the tour of Bangladesh presented and booked a place for themselves in the Test team for this series. This now means that there is keen competition for places which should drive better individual performances and that of the team. I also think that these players are looking forward to displaying their skills on home soil,” Harper added.
Kyle Mayers. (Credits: Twitter)
West Indies squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka:
Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood (VC), Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Kemar Roach, and Jomel Warrican
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Cricket West Indies (CWI) announces the West Indies squad for the first of the two-match Test series at home against Sri Lanka.#MenInMaroon#WIvSL
