The Cricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel on June 8 (Tuesday) has picked a 13-member squad for the first Test against South Africa. The Test squad includes Jayden Seales, the exciting 19-year-old fast bowler from Trinidad & Tobago.
The two-match Test series will be played at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground for the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy on June 10-14 and June 18-22. These are the final matches in the current cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. Both teams trying to finish higher in the final Championship table.
The 19-year-old’s only first-class match so far was for West Indies A in New Zealand last December, and in all, he has played only ten professional games at senior level. The youngster was particularly impressive in the Team Hamilton vs Team Blackwood four-day intra-squad fixture more recently, taking 4 for 40 in the second innings, including the wickets of Shai Hope and Darren Bravo.
19-year-old Jayden Seales added to West Indies squad
Speaking on the squad selection, Roger Harper, the Lead Selector said that they are confident about Jayden Seales will add value to the side.
“Jayden Seales is young, very enthusiastic and has a big heart. In the ‘Best v Best’ matches he bowled with pace, got movement and has displayed the ability to take wickets. We think he is capable of adding potency to the bowling attack.”
The panel also recalled Shai Hope, the top-order batsman, and Kieran Powell, the experienced left-handed opener. Hope last played Test cricket in England in July last year, while Powell’s last Test appearance was in Bangladesh in December, 2018.
“Kieran Powell we know is a very capable batsman who we expect to add quality and depth to the batting department. He put himself in the mix with his performance in the Best v Best match. Shai Hope has performed very well in the red ball matches he has played, following on the back of his highly successful One-Day International series against Sri Lanka, so he has forced his way into the squad by performance,” he added.
West Indies squad for 1st Test against South Africa
Kraigg Brathwaite, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Alzzari Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales
more to follow….
