Cricketers Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, and Akeal Hosein made their way back into the West Indies 15-member squad that was announced on Friday (November 8) ahead of single matches in the first two T20IS of the five-match series against England. Pooran, Russell, Hetmyer, and Akeal missed out on last month’s three-game T20I series against Sri Lanka for personal reasons. They have come back to the team instead of Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, André Fletcher, and Shamar Springer.
The two T20 matches between England and the West Indiana teams will be played at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday (November 9) and Sunday (November 10) respectively. Having already won the ODI series 2-1, the Men in Maroon will be looking for another emphatic display in the shortest format series as well while keeping England at bay.
Star bowler Alzarri Joseph, who controversially left the field after arguing with captain Shai Hope Wednesday during the third ODI, is also expected to miss the first two T20Is after being slapped with a two-match suspension. He was traded in the T20I squad with Matthew Forde who is a medium pace bowler and also named the Most Valuable Player in the ODI series that has just been finished.
“The T20 team is our most settled team with lots of experienced players. However, the difficulty will be picking the eleven, as every single player is challenging for a spot in the eleven. I think, facing a very good England team, I have no fear that the selected squad will continue to play a style of cricket that enables us to win this Rivalry series Daren Sammy stated in a released interview with West indian Cricket,” head coach of the West Indies team fired back.
The team will still be under the captaincy of Rovman Powell while he gets additional batsmen support from ODI captain Shai Hope, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Pooran and Hetmyer.
Drawing from the rest of the squad, Roston chase is the only spin bowling all-rounder but Russell, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd are three fast bowling all-rounders.
Shamar Jospeh and Forde will lead the pace attack along with Terrance Hinds who is yet to earn an international cap, whereas Gudakesh Motie and Akeal are two spinners in the squad.
West Indies squad for first two T20Is: T20I Squad: Rovman Powell (C), Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Terrance Hinds, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd.