“The tour of Sri Lanka gives us a chance to test our depth and assess players in different situations, especially with several senior players missing out for various reasons, including a need for rest and rehabilitation from injury,” Sammy said in a CWI statement. “We are confident in the squad’s ability to compete strongly against Sri Lanka.”
Alzarri Joseph, who had been rested for West Indies’ most recent T20I series, against South Africa at home, returned to the side but there was no place for left-arm seamer Obed McCoy, who often operates at the death.
West Indies T20I squad
Rovman Powell (capt), Roston Chase (vice-capt), Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Andre Fletcher, Terrance Hinds, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer
Jewel Andrew bolts into WI ODI squad
Seventeen-year-old Jewel Andrew has bolted into West Indies’ ODI squad for the three-match series in Pallekele. He could become the youngest West Indian to make his debut in ODI cricket; only Derek Sealy and Garry Sobers have made their international debuts for West Indies at the age of 17.
Andrew has played only three List A games and seven CPL matches so far, but has already done enough to catch the attention of some West Indies greats, including Viv Richards and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, his CPL coach at Falcons, and Ian Bishop.
“As we continue to build our ODI team, this tour offers a valuable opportunity to evaluate strategies and give opportunities to emerging talent,” Sammy said. “We are excited to see young players like Jewel Andrew, who has earned his place as an exciting prospect for the future.”
Shai Hope, who won a two-year contract with CWI, will continue to captain the ODI team with Alzarri Joseph his deputy. Matthew Forde, who didn’t find a place in the T20I side, made it to the ODI side. He has had some success with Dambulla Aura in the LPL.
The ODI squad has two specialist spinners, with wristspinner Hayden Walsh Jr retaining his place to complement left-arm fingerspinner Motie. Batters Athanaze and Keacy Carty, who were also part of West Indies’ most recent ODI squad, for the Australia tour earlier this year, retained their spots.
Carty was also in good form for TKR in the CPL, where he scored 246 runs in ten innings at an average of 30.75 and strike rate of 125.51.
West Indies’ white-ball tour of Sri Lanka will begin on October 13 and will run until October 26.
West Indies ODI squad
Shai Hope (capt), Alzarri Joseph (vice-capt), Jewel Andrew, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr
Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
