West Indies all-rounder Roston Chase and middle-order batsman Shamarh Brooks were on Saturday recalled to the squad for their two-test series in Australia, while former captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s son Tagenarine earned his maiden call-up.
However, there was no room for Rahkeem Cornwall or left-arm finger spinner Gudakesh Motie. Cornwall has been omitted despite being the highest wicket-taker in the four-day championship, with 23 strikes in five matches at an average of 21.47.
That meant Chase, who is returning from an injury, is the only proper spin option in the squad.
West Indies Lead Selector Haynes mentioned that Chase was selected based on experience.
“Roston Chase has returned to the squad as an allrounder and we believe his experience and skillset will be beneficial and Shamarh Brooks has also returned to bolster the middle-order batting,” Haynes said.
In the Press conference yesterday Haynes further clarifies the reason behind not selecting Rahkeem Cornwall or left-arm finger spinner Gudakesh Motie.
“The situation regarding the Roston Chase selection is the fact that and also mentioned about Motie is that we as a panel, we decided that we would go for an off-spinner, and that’s the reason why we did not include Motie in the side. And we believe that Chase was the best person for the job that can do the job for us. And that was what the panel decided” Lead Selector said
When Media Asks if there is consideration given to Rahkeem Cornwall for selection for West indies team,
“There was a group of players that were under consideration for selection, from what I was told from the lead for the panel, and this included Rahkeem. It also included Dominic Drake.” CWI Director Jimmy Adams said
“However, we needed information on not just these two, but the group that was under consideration as well.
And we decided that we wouldn’t make a decision on either player or any of the other players until all the information that was required came in.
And it was not until we had all this information to make a decision, which is why the team didn’t officially go until Friday, because the final meeting was actually held on Friday morning.
So we needed to get information in on these players. Rahkeem Cornwall was one of them. And once this information came in, the panel was able to convene and to select the squad that was selected.” He concluded
John Campbell, who had opened with Brathwaite against Bangladesh in June, was recently handed a four-year ban for violation of an anti-doping rule.
The squad is expected to assemble in Australia on November 10, 20 days ahead of the first Test in Perth.
They will play a three-day warm-up game in Canberra from November 17, followed by a four-day pink-ball match against the Prime Minister’s XI, also in Canberra, from November 23.
The second Test in Adelaide will also be a day-night affair, starting from December 8. The two Tests will be part of the World Test Championship (WTC).
Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-capt), Shamarh Brooks, Nkrumah Bonner, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Devon Thomas (wk), Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Alzarri Joseph, Anderson Phillip, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales