ST. JOHN’S, Antigua: Cricket West Indies has announced its Test squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand in December, featuring the notable return of veteran fast bowler Kemar Roach and all-rounder Kevem Hodge. Both players are set to rejoin the Test side after last appearing against Pakistan in Multan this past January.
Roach’s inclusion is a significant boost, bringing a wealth of experience to a relatively unseasoned pace attack. The bowling unit will also feature 29-year-old Ojay Shields, who has earned his maiden call-up to the Test squad. However, the team will be without the services of key fast bowlers Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph, both of whom have been ruled out due to injuries.
In other selection changes, left-arm spinner Khary Pierre has been omitted from the squad, while Hodge has been granted a recall to strengthen the team’s all-round capabilities.Miles Bascombe, the Director of Cricket for Cricket West Indies, acknowledged the challenge ahead. “New Zealand has always been a difficult place for any team to tour,” he stated.
“The recent high-performance camp in Antigua was specifically designed to prepare the players for New Zealand’s conditions, with a special focus on pitches that favor fast bowling.”
Several players, including Roach and Shields, participated in the two-week camp and are scheduled to link up with the current ODI squad in New Zealand. The team will play a two-day warm-up match against a New Zealand XI in Christchurch to acclimate to the local conditions.This series is a crucial part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. West Indies currently languish at the bottom of the WTC standings, having lost all five of their previous Test matches.
