WI vs IND: Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze Receive Call-ups As West Indies Announce Squad For 1st Test

WI vs IND: West Indies have announced a 13-member squad for the first Test against India which includes quite a few surprises.

Kirk McKenzie during the ICC U19 Cricket World Super League Cup Quarter Final match between West Indies and New Zealand at Willowmoore Park on January 29, 2020.

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Cricket West Indies announced the team's squad for the first Test match against India beginning on July 12 at the Windsor Park Dominica. The selectors have opted to go for two uncapped batters in their 13-member squad and at the same time recalled a spinner back into the national team and putting him in verge of his first Test match appearance in two years.

While left-handed batter Kirk McKenzie has earned a call-up riding on some brilliant performances for West Indies A against Bangladesh A, another left-handed star Alick Athanaze also finds his name in the squad announced.

Chief selector Desmond Haynes reckons that both of them have a long career ahead of them and has backed them to do well if they get to make their debut in the series.

"We were very impressed with the approach to batsmanship of McKenzie and Athanaze on the recent ‘A’ Team tour of Bangladesh," Haynes said as per an official release.

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"These are two young players who got good scores and played with great maturity, and we believe they deserve an opportunity," he added.

However, what came as a bit of a shock was the inclusion of Rahkeem Cornwall who hasn't featured in a Test match since November 2021. It is pertinent to note though that Cornwall is back into the scheme of things because the team's preferred spinning option Gudakesh Motie has been ruled out due to an injury. Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican also finds his name in the squad and will be in contention for a place in the final XI against India.

West Indies squad for first Test against India: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican

Traveling Reserves: Tevin Imlach, Akeem Jordan