Windies vs England: Keemo Paul included for the final Test; Kraigg Brathwaite to replace Jason Holder as captain

Fast bowler Keemo Paul has been included in the Windies squad for the third and final Test against England, while Kraigg Brathwaite will lead the side in absence of Jason Holder. The regular skipper has been suspended for the Test following his second minor over-rate offence in the second Test. Holder’s replacement, Brathwaite, has the experience of captaining the team in four Test matches.

However, experts have been at loggerheads with ICC’s decision to ban the Windies captain. Michael Vaughan labelled the decision as ‘bonkers’ and Shane Warne called it ‘ridiculous’ given the second Test finished inside three days.

Paul, on the other hand, has featured in two Tests and has three wickets from the same. The 20-year-old has been recalled to the team on the back of his good performances in first-class cricket for Guyana. He has taken 20 wickets for Guyana in just three first-class games and has also scored a knock of 142 runs.

“With Jason Holder missing out on the last Test, Kraigg Brathwaite will take the reins of captaincy,” said Courtney Browne, the Windies Chairman of Selectors, on Monday, 4 February. “We also welcome Keemo Paul back to the squad. He is having a good showing in the West Indies first-class championship at the moment. The panel also takes this opportunity to congratulate the team and the support staff for the series victory and wish them all the best for the third and final match of the series.”

Windies will look to whitewash England

West Indies are 2-0 up in the three-Test series and will be looking ahead to a whitewash. They sealed the series in the second Test, where they beat a completely hapless England side by 10 wickets. The third and final Test gets underway in St Lucia on February 9. With the kind of slump and misery Windies have seen in the recent past, this series win will be a great confidence boost.

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