NZ vs WI 2025: Kemar Roach recalled to Test squad as Shamar Joseph, Alzarri Joseph out with injuries

Kemar Roach has returned to West Indies Test squad for the three-match series against New Zealand. The three red-ball matches are scheduled to be played in December.

Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph miss out due to injuries. Roach last played a Test in January 2025. His 85-Test experience will come to the fore in an attack which will also include 29-year-old Ojay Shields. Shields has received a maiden call-up to the side. 

Kavem Hodge also made his last Test appearance for West Indies in the same Multan match which was Roach's most-recent game. Khary Pierre, the 34-yer-old who made his Test debut against India recently, was not selected.

Cricket West Indies' Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe spoke on how the high-performance camp in Antigua was set up for the red-ball unit to get exposed to similar conditions which could be expected in New Zealand.

"New Zealand has traditionally been one of the toughest places for any touring side. The recent high-performance camp here in Antigua was designed to replicate, as closely as possible, the conditions we expect to face, particularly the pace-friendly surfaces," stated Bascombe, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

The upcoming series will be a part of the 2025-27 cycle of the World Test Championship. At present, West Indies are rock-bottom of the eight-nation competition for teams which have played at least one match. They have lost all five of their matches so far: three against Australia at home and two against India away. New Zealand, on the other hand, will get their WTC run off the mark with the series.

West Indies' squad for Test series against New Zealand

Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Ojay Shields