West Indies announce Test squad for Australia series

The West Indies have named an overhauled Test squad for their upcoming three-match home series against Australia, signalling a fresh start as the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle gets underway.

Newly-appointed Test captain Roston Chase will be returning to the format for the first time since March 2023, meanwhile left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican will serve as his deputy.

Among the most notable inclusions is white-ball skipper Shai Hope, who returns to the red-ball format, while his ODI deputy Brandon King earns a maiden Test call-up.

Veteran pacer Kemar Roach has been left out, highlighting a shift towards a younger core.

The pace attack gets a youthful injection. Johann Layne, 21, earns a Test call-up after picking up 63 wickets in just 17 first-class matches.

Anderson Phillip is also retained following his five-wicket haul for West Indies A against South Africa A. He was part of the squad that toured Pakistan earlier this year.

The top order sees a boost with the return of opener John Campbell, alongside 24-year-old Kevlon Anderson, rewarded for a stellar season in domestic cricket.

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Anderson was one of the standout performers in the 2024/25 West Indies Championship, scoring 573 runs in 11 innings, including three centuries, and finishing as the tournament’s third-highest run-scorer.

Head coach Daren Sammy expressed confidence in the revamped unit.

“I’m excited about the inclusion of young prospect Kevlon Anderson, who comes in after solid seasons in our domestic competitions to help provide stability in the top order,” said Sammy.

“The return of Shai Hope is welcomed, given his consistency in white-ball cricket, while Brandon King’s inclusion fits a specific role we’ve identified to take this team closer to the top of the Test rankings.”

Several players from the recent Test tour to Pakistan have been dropped, including Joshua Da Silva, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo, Gudakesh Motie, and Kevin Sinclair, all of whom miss out as the selectors opt for a new direction.

The three-match Test series is set to begin on June 25 in Barbados.

West Indies squad for Test series against Australia

Roston Chase (captain), Jomel Warrican (vice-captain), Kevlon Anderson, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Mikyle Louis, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales.

READ: Pakistan, West Indies set to scrap ODIs from bilateral series: reports