West Indies Playing 11 vs Australia – 1st Test, 2024

West Indies placed seventh on the WTC points table takes on Australia in a two-match Test series. The Windies are touring down under for a two-match Test series followed by a three-match T20I series and a three-match Test series. The first Test will be played in Adelaide from Janaury 17-21.

West Indies, over the years, have become a very depleted Test nation. They are ranked as low as eighth on the ICC Test rankings. They have not produced enough players in the last 10-15 years who have gone on to play 100 or more Test matches for the country with T20 cricket becoming the center of attraction.

West Indies have not won a Test match against Australia in the last 20 years. They won their last Test against Australia back in 2003. West Indies and very recently Pakistan have been amongst the worst teams touring Australia in the last two decades.

Cricket West Indies have named a 15-member squad for the two-match Test series against Australia. Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers have opted out with a focus on T20 cricket for the World Cup later this year. Jayden Seals is also out with a shoulder injury.

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Seven uncapped players have been named in the 15-member squad. Uncapped allrounder Kevin Sinclair, the other uncapped players picked in the squad are batter Zachary McCaskie, wicket-keeper Tevin Imlach, allrounders Justin Greaves and Kavem Hodge, fast bowlers Akeem Jordan and Shamar Joseph. Gudkesh Motie the spinner has made a comeback to the Test side since March last year.

West Indies Playing 11 vs Australia – 1st Test, 2024

Kriagg Brathwaite (C)

Brathwaite is the captain of the side and will open the batting. The batter with 87 Test matches and close to 6000 Test runs remains the most capped Test player from the current squad of players.

Tagernarine Chanderpaul

Chanderpaul will open the batting with his skipper Brathwaite. The batter played just 8 Test matches and has already scored over 500 runs with a double hundred already under his belt. He is being seen as a batting superstar in Caribbean cricket.

Alick Athanaze

Atanaze will slot in at three. He has played just two Test matches and has shown good potential with the bat. He will look to have an impressive series against seasoned bowlers of the Aussie team.

Kirk McKenzie

Mckenzie will bat at four. He made his Test debut against India in Trinidad in July 2023. 32 remains his highest score in the format. He has to grab his opportunity with both hands in this series. The 22-year-old has scored 591 runs in 9 games in First-Class cricket averaging almost 40. He was also part of the Test series against Bangladesh A in May last year.

Zachary McCaskie

McCaskie is another uncapped batter in the lineup. He might bat at number five in this lineup. He has played for Barbados, West Indies A and West Indies U-19 teams.

Kavem Hodge

Hodge might be the other uncapped player who might get a chance. He has already played three ODIs for West Indies but yet to play in the other formats. He is a right-arm batter and left-arm orthodox bowler.

Joshua Da Silva

Da Silva is the specialist keeper in the XI. He has played 24 Test matches and two ODIs for West Indies. He has a best of 100 in teh format and is inching closer to 1000 Test runs.

Kemar Roach

Roach will lead the Windies pace attack. He has played 79 Test matches for his country and picked up 265 wickets. A good performance against Australia will help him improve his reputation.

Alzarri Joseph

Joseph will be the other seamer in the XI. He was chosen as the vice-captain of the side. The pacer with 85 wickets from 30 matches is 15 short of 100 Test wickets. He is very now a senior bowler in West Indies cricket across formats.

Kevin Sinclair

Sinclair will be the third Windies seamer in the XI. He was in the squad when West Indies played their last Test series against India but was not given a chance. If he plays it will be his Test debut.

Gudakesh Motie

Motie concludes the likely West Indies XI for the first Test against Australia. He has played just four Test matches and has picked up 22 wickets already. He is a left-arm orthodox spinner.

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