ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Jason Holder, batsman, and batsman Darren Bravo have been recalled to a 13-man squad to face Sri Lanka in the opening Test of the series two games later this month, with the selectors choosing to keep core the side that pulled off a stunning whitewash from Bangladesh last month.
Both players had dropped out of the Bangladesh series due to fears of COVID-19, joining eight other players who opted to surrender the Tests and the one-day series, but who have found themselves back in line for the first Caribbean Test in almost two years.
Holder and Bravo will support an inexperienced batting group led by new captain Kraigg Brathwaite and include the likes of Kyle Mayers, Nkrumah Bonner and wicketkeeper batsman Joshua Da Silva.
“It’s good to be able to put together a Test squad with a number of players coming off very good performances in their last series in Bangladesh. [It is] very encouraging, ”said chief selector Roger Harper.
“It’s a great opportunity to build on the good work done in Bangladesh. It is very important to continue the process of working hard, playing with great passion, playing with determination and a great desire to succeed. Doing so consistently will bring us the right results. ”
He continued: “Many players took advantage of the opportunity presented by the tour of Bangladesh and booked a place in the Test team for this series.
“This now means that there is intense competition for places that should drive better individual and team performance. I also believe that these players are looking forward to demonstrating their skills on home soil. ”
Doubt had surrounded Bravo’s form lately, with the left-hander suffering a horrific trip from New Zealand where he managed just 32 runs from four flyovers.
However, Harper said that the number three position was one of the concerns of the West Indies especially with no player seizing that opportunity on the Bangladesh tour, and the experienced Bravo was thought to be the best fit.
“Coming out of Bangladesh, we looked at areas we thought we needed to strengthen and also looked at the types of attacks we would face here during this series, and the spot number three was a situation we looked at and we thought … Darren Bravo would be the best choice at this time, ”Harper explained.
There was no place in the squad, however, for the batting trio of Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer and Shamarh Brooks, who were among those opting out of the Bangladesh tour.
Chase managed 17 runs in four flyovers on the tour of New Zealand, Hetmyer has not played a Test in nearly 1-½ years while Brooks was also poor in New Zealand last December with 53 runs from four flyovers.
Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who finished with 10 wickets in both Bangladesh Tests, has retained his place along with spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, who was the team’s leading wicket-keeper in the series with 14 scalps.
They complement a speed attack that includes Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph and Holder.
SQUARE – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain) J, Jermaine Blackwood (lieutenant), Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.