Left-hand batter Kirk McKenzie has earned a maiden call-up within the 13-man West Indies squad that may face India within the first Test from July 12 in Dominica, whereas Rahkeem Cornwall and Jomel Warrican have been recalled because the spin choices. Uncapped batter Alick Athanaze was retained within the facet after he traveled to South Africa for West Indies’ final Test sequence however did not get a sport.

With Gudakesh Motie present process rehabilitation for his lower-back damage, an “opportunity” opened up for the 2 spinners, based on CWI lead selector Desmond Haynes. Kyle Mayers and quick bowler Jayden Seales have been recovering from their niggles however weren’t thought of to threat any additional accidents. The selectors additionally named wicketkeeper-batter Tevin Imlach and right-arm fast Akeem Jordan as the 2 touring reserves for the primary Test.

Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach and Jason Holder will type the tempo assault with Raymon Reifer because the all-round choice.

“We had Jayden Seales here in the camp and he has made good progress during his rehab from surgery. However, we felt he is not yet quite ready to return, and we don’t want to risk him at this stage,” Haynes stated. “Kyle Mayers was also considered but he has some niggles, and the precaution is not to have him in the rigors of a five-day match at this stage.

“We are with out Motie, who’s doing his rehabilitation, and this has created a possibility for Warrican and Cornwall within the spin-bowling division. They have each performed at Test match stage earlier than and are able to doing the job.

“We were very impressed with the approach to batsmanship of McKenzie and Athanaze on the recent ‘A’ Team tour of Bangladesh. These are two young players who got good scores and played with great maturity, and we believe they deserve an opportunity.”

McKenzie, 22, and Athanaze, 24, hit two half-centuries every in Bangladesh with the A workforce in May. McKenzie scored 91 and 86 in Sylhet after the 221 he scored within the Headley Weekes Tri-Series competitors in April. Athanaze most lately struck the joint-fastest fifty on ODI debut, towards UAE in Sharjah and in addition earned a CPL contract lately, with Barbados Royals.

McKenzie has performed simply 9 first-class matches to common 39.40 after scoring 591 runs with a century and 4 half-centuries. He made his first-class debut final 12 months for Jamaica.

Both Cornwall and Warrican final performed a Test in Sri Lanka on the finish of 2021. Warrican toured Zimbabwe earlier this 12 months however did not play and in addition missed the next tour of South Africa.

Cornwall, who made his Test debut towards India in 2019, returned on the again of robust current type in first-class cricket. He was the top wicket-taker within the final first-class season with 35 scalps in simply 5 outings – together with 4 five-wicket hauls – whereas additionally scoring two half-centuries.

This sequence would be the first for each West Indies and India within the new cycle (2023-25) of the World Test Championship. West Indies completed eighth out of 9 groups within the earlier iteration, profitable solely 4 of their 13 video games in that cycle.

The first Test is scheduled for July 12 to 16 adopted by the second in Port of Spain from July 20. The two groups will then play three ODIs and 5 T20Is.

West Indies squad for first India Test: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-capt), Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican. Traveling reserves: Tevin Imlach, Akeem Jordan