West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) selectors have named 12 players in the squad for the upcoming four-match Test series against India. There were quite a few notable omissions from the squad.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin was left out of the squad. Ramdin's hinted at his exclusion on Twitter last week, tweeting that he is unlikely to make it to the West Indies Test squad for the series against India at home. Shane Dowrich will don the wicketkeeping gloves for the West Indies.
Fast bowler Jerome Taylor announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday. He will remain available for selection in the other two formats of the international game. As a result, the West Indies selectors did not have an option of picking him.
Kemar Roach was also not picked in the squad after his poor show in Australia with the red ball.
Shai Hope, who recently scored a century against India in a warmup game, was also not picked in the Test squad.
WICB selectors have selected uncapped Roston Chase, who is a middle-order batsman and can be handy with his offspin as well.
Meanwhile, left-handed batsman Leon Johnson was recalled for this series against India.
Both Johnson and Chase had an outstanding domestic season with the bat. They have scored a lot of runs and it did not skip the selectors' eyes as they were duly rewarded with a spot in the national Test side.
Surprisingly, Shanon Gabriel is the only specialist seamer in the 12-man squad with Jason Holder and Carlos Brathwaite to support him. Devendra Bishoo was picked as the specialist leg-spinner.
West Indies Test squad for four-match series against India:
Jason Holder (C), Kraigg Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Rajendra Chandrika, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich (wk), Shannon Gabriel, Leon Johnson, Marlon Samuels.
