West Indies Test squad for England announced; Kraigg Brathwaite to lead the side

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has unveiled a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against England, which is scheduled to begin on July 10 in London. Veteran all-rounder Jason Holder and fast bowler Jayden Seales have returned to the squad for the red-ball series in England.

Kraigg Brathwaite will lead the West Indies team, with Alzarri Joseph serving as deputy. Jason Holder made himself unavailable for the Test series against Australia earlier this year. Jayden Seales was ruled out of the series, where the Windies team secured a historic win in Brisbane and drew a 1-1 series.

The West Indies cricket team is currently in sixth place in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings. The Caribbean team secured a 1-0 victory against England in the home Test series in 2022. However, they lost the series 2-1 when they last played a Test series in England in 2020.

Will Perform Admirably Against England - West Indies chief selector Desmond Haynes

West Indies chief selector Desmond Haynes said that the squad has a mix of experienced players and emerging talent. Haynes expressed confidence in the team's ability to perform well against England.

"The squad has been shaped with both experience and emerging talent, ensuring a strong balance as we face the challenge of playing in English conditions. Over the past year, our red-ball program has continued to develop," Haynes said.

"Following our victory in the last Test in Australia in January, it is evident that we are seeing the fruits of that investment. Each player selected has earned their place through consistent performances and hard work. We are confident that this blend of seasoned players and emerging faces will perform admirably against England," he added.

The Test series between the West Indies and England will kick off with a Test match at Lord's in London on July 10. The first Test will be the final international game for veteran England pacer James Anderson. The remaining two matches will be played in Nottingham and Birmingham, respectively.

Mikyle Louis Receives Maiden Call For National Team

Uncapped opener Mikyle Louis received a maiden call-up from the national team for the upcoming tour of England next month. The 23-year-old showcased impressive performances in his debut First-Class season. He scored 682 runs at an average of 48.71 for the Leeward Island Hurricanes.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul was dropped from the squad following his poor performance in Australia. Nineteen-year-old fast bowler Isai Thorne is not included in the 15-member squad but will join as a development player. He picked up 31 wickets at an average of 16.29 in his debut first-class season.

West Indies Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph (Vice-Captain), Shamar Joseph, Mikyle Louis, Zachary McCaskie, Kirk McKenzie, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair

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