Hope returns for Australia Tests; Roach dropped

AUSTRALIA TOUR OF WI, 2025

Hope returns for Australia Tests; Roach dropped

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Hope last played a Test match in 2021 © Getty

West Indies have made sweeping changes to their Test squad for the upcoming home Tests against Australia, which signals the start of their 2025-27 Test Championship Cycle. Roston Chase, who last played a Test match in March 2023 and was named the Test skipper recently, leads a fresh-looking squad which sees limited-overs skipper Shai Hope recalled. Veteran pacer Kemar Roach has been left out while Hope's deputy in ODIs - Brandon King - has earned a maiden call-up.

West Indies have bolstered their top-order by bringing back John Campbell and picking the 24-year-old Kevlon Anderson for the first time following his recent successes in the domestic setup. Anderson scored 573 runs in 11 innings in the West Indies Championship 2024/25, including three centuries, and finished third on the list of run-getters.

West Indies squad for Australia Tests: 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

"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, while the return of Shai Hope is welcomed given his consistency in white ball cricket," head coach Daren Sammy said. "Brandon King's inclusion fits a role we have identified that needs special focus to take our team to those closer to the top of the rankings."

The bowling unit has a few fresh faces too. Twenty-one year-old Johann Layne comes in after having picked 63 wickets in 17 first class fixtures. Anderson Phillip, who was part of the squad in Pakistan too, recently picked a five-fer for West Indies A against South Africa A.

"The start of the Test Championship Cycle is critical to building positive momentum as we strive to work our way up the rankings. Beginning with a strong showing against a team like Australia would be ideal in our quest to bring West Indies back to the helm of Test Cricket," Sammy said.

"It was imperative that we sought to put a squad together that was well equipped, in both the batting and bowling departments, to manage the ebbs and flows of this format of the game, while possessing the ability to apply pressure in key phases, through disciplined, purposeful play," he added.

Alongside Roach, Joshua da Silva, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo, Gudakesh Motie and Kevin Sinclair are players who featured in Pakistan but have not been picked for the Australia Tests. The first of the three Tests will start on June 25 in Barbados.

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