West Indies ODI squad for England series announced; Shimron Hetmyer replaces Alick Athanaze

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, which is set to begin on Thursday, October 31 at home. The selectors made only one change to the squad that toured Sri Lanka, with Shimron Hetmyer taking the place of Alick Athanaze.

The Windies will take on England in the first ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on October 31, and the second ODI will be played at the same venue on November 2. The final ODI will take place in Barbados on November 6. Following the ODI series, the two teams will play in five T20 matches.

Shimron Hetmyer Replaces Alick Athanaze In West Indies Squad

Alick Athanaze registered scores of 10 runs and 1 run before being dropped from the final ODI match that the West Indies won. The visiting team started the tour with a win in the first T20I but lost the series by 2-1. They also lost the first ODI of the three-match series before winning the final match.

Shimron Hetmyer last played for the West Indies in ODIs in December 2023, where he scored 32, 0, and 12 in three matches against England. The left-handed batter's return to the squad will bolster the Caribbean middle-order batting lineup after their recent struggles during their tour of Sri Lanka.

Evin Lewis scored a century off only 61 deliveries during the final ODI match of the series. Lewis replaced Alick Athanaze in the lineup. Sherfane Rutherford recorded three half-centuries in the series with scores of 74*, 80, and 50*. 17-year-old Jewel Andrew retained his place in the Windies ODI squad.

West Indies Squad For ODI Series Against England

Shai Hope (c), Jewel Andrew, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jnr.

We've Selected A Balanced Squad - Head Coach Darren Sammy

Head coach Darren Sammy is excited for the upcoming challenge against England. Sammy said that the squad selection was made with an eye on the 2027 World Cup. He emphasized the historic rivalry between the two teams, stating that facing England inspires the West Indies.

"Playing against England always provides a new challenge and reignites a rivalry that the players and the people of the Caribbean are eager for. Somehow, we West Indies always find a way to raise our game when we face England," Sammy said, as quoted by the official website.

"This rivalry goes back for decades, and after defeating them last year at home for the first time in a long time in an ODI series, we’re ready to face the challenge of a strong England squad again."

"It’s always special to play at home, where the local support brings energy and passion to every match. With our sights set on qualifying for the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2027, we’ve selected a balanced squad that will no doubt push and compete with one of the best teams in the world," he added.

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