West Indies: West Indies are currently facing a lot of pressure as a result of their failure to earn a spot in the 2023 ODI World Cup. A three-match ODI series and a five-match T20I series will follow the team's two-match Test series against India.

The first Test, which is scheduled to start at Windsor Park in Dominica from July 12 to July 16, has a 13-member squad and two reserve players, according to Cricket West Indies, who released the squad list earlier.

Notably, left-handed batsman Kirk McKenzie received his first call-up to the West Indies team, and the other uncapped player in the group is fellow left-hander Alick Athanaze. Rahkeem Cornwall, an all-around player, has also found a place for himself after being absent from the team since November 2021. Gudakesh Motie, a left-arm spinner who is 28 years old, is still undergoing rehabilitation, hence he is not ready for selection.

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“We were very impressed with the approach to batsmanship of McKenzie and Athanaze on the recent ‘A’ Team tour of Bangladesh. These are two young players who got good scores and played with great maturity, and we believe they deserve an opportunity. We are without Motie, who is doing his rehabilitation, and this has created an opportunity for Warrican and Cornwall in the spin bowling department. They have both played at Test match level before and are capable of doing the job,” chief selector Desmond Haynes said.

“We had Jayden Seales here in the camp and he has made good progress during his rehab from surgery. However, we felt he is not yet quite ready to return, and we don’t want to risk him at this stage. Kyle Mayers was also considered but he has some niggles, and the precaution is not to have him in the rigors of a five-day match at this stage,” he added.

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Notably, West Indies won the three-match World Test Championship series against England by a score of 1-0, and they would be hoping to achieve the same against India after their recent setback in the ODI World Cup qualifiers.

West Indies Squad - Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood, Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican

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