Windies announce 15-man squad for two-match Test series in New Zealand

Windies announced the 15-member squad for two-match Test series in New Zealand. Kyle Hope was dropped from the squad for his poor run in international cricket. At the same time, Sunil Ambris has earned a call-up and will replace Hope while the selectors have decided to retain the remaining players who defeated Zimbabwe 1-0 in the two-Test series in Bulawayo.

Hope has been struggling in the Test format. So far he has scored 101 runs in 5 Tests with 43 being his highest score in nine innings. Meanwhile, Ambris, who has played a One-Day International (ODI), registered two centuries against Sri Lanka A to earn the spot.

Windies Cricket chairman selectors Courtney Browne said Hope needs to play big innings in domestic cricket to make his return to the national side.

“Sunil has replaced Kyle Hope in the squad, and this is on the basis of his consistent performances across formats and his outstanding returns for the Windies ‘A’ Team in the ‘Test’ series against Sri Lanka A,” Browne said. “This type of consistency is very welcomed by the panel.”

“Kyle is encouraged to return to the first-class championship and turn in the strong performances his talent suggests he can deliver,” he added.

Tests will be followed by ODI and T20I series

The former wicketkeeper also said that the selection panel is looking to give players a longer run in international cricket. This decision will boost players’ confidence as they will be to play the game with a free mind.

“It [series win in Zimbabwe] was a strong team effort and highlighted by those players that did not do as well as expected on the recent tour of England, playing critical roles in the team’s success. Their success augurs well for the selection process and the philosophy of continuity, which has underpinned our selection for the tour of New Zealand, and not the chopping and changing mentality,” he pointed out.

West Indies’ tour of New Zealand will start with a three-day warm-up match against New Zealand ‘A’ in Lincoln from November 25. The two Tests series will start on December 1 and 9 respectively, in Wellington and Hamilton. The Test series will be followed by a three-match ODI series and a three-match Twenty 20 International (T20I) series.

Windies Test Squad for NZ tour:

Jason Holder (C), Kraigg Brathwaite, Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich (wk), Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach.