West Indian pacer Alzarri Joseph ruled out of India series

The West Indies, looking for their first Test-series win in India since 1983-84, has received a blow as their 20-year-old speedster Alzarri Joseph has been ruled out of the upcoming series due to an injury. He has been replaced by uncapped fast bowler Sherman Lewis in the squad which is led by Jason Holder. The Caribbeans will play two Tests, five ODIs and three T20Is during their month-long tour starting October 4.

Lewis made his first-class debut for the Windward Islands in March 2017 and made an emphatic statement by picking 30 wickets in the regional four-day competition in the season at an average of 21.66. Lewis then found a place in the West Indies ‘A’ squad which toured England in June-July. There, in one unofficial Test against India ‘A’ in Beckenham, Lewis took a couple of four-fors to help his team draw the match.

Joseph, who played six Tests since his debut in 2016 and picked 15 wickets, sustained a stress fracture in November last year and Cricket West Indies’ medical panel thereafter made its recommendation to continue with his rehabilitation till he achieves full fitness.

According to an ESPNcricinfo report, the bowler’s fitness progress will be under watch at the High-Performance Centre at Antigua’s Coolidge Cricket Ground. Joseph hasn’t played in a Test after August 2017 and though he played the ODI series against Bangladesh at home, he did not play in the Test series against them. He, however, featured in four Carribean Premier League matches for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots recently, taking four wickets.

Members of the India-bound West Indian team are already undergoing training in Dubai’s ICC Academy.

WI haven’t won Test series in India since 1983-84

The last time the West Indies won a Test series against India was in 2002 when they came from behind to win a five-match series 2-1. When it comes to beating India in Tests in their own den, the Caribbeans haven’t done it since their 3-0 win in a six-game series in 1983-84. In 1994-95, the West Indies managed to draw a three-match series 1-1 in India.

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