The West Indies cricket team has infused new talent into its squad with the inclusion of two uncapped all-rounders, Sherfane Rutherford and Matthew Forde, for the upcoming one-day international series against England scheduled for December. These selections come as part of the team’s efforts to rebuild and enhance their ODI reputation following their failure to qualify for the recent World Cup hosted in India.
Leading the squad again will be Shai Hope, taking on the responsibilities of team captain, with Alzarri Joseph appointed as the new vice-captain. Alongside the new faces, the team also sees the return of seasoned wicket-keeper/batsman Shane Dowrich and opener Kjorn Ottley, who are gearing up to leave their mark on the series.
Unfortunately, the squad will be without the services of Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder. Pooran is focusing on T20 franchise commitments, while Holder is dedicating his efforts to Test cricket and T20 formats.
The inclusion of Rutherford, a 25-year-old batting all-rounder from Guyana, and Forde, a 21-year-old fast bowling all-rounder from Barbados, represents an infusion of youthful energy and potential into the West Indies squad. Forde, in particular, has turned heads with his performances for the St Lucia Kings, a fact highlighted by lead selector Desmond Haynes, who described Forde as “a whole-hearted cricketer who has been impressive” and a player who could shape the future of West Indies cricket.
Haynes expressed optimism about the home series against England, anticipating a competitive series but also expressed confidence in the capabilities of the selected squad in familiar home conditions. “We have a clear vision. We are focused on building a solid team. Our main focus is to rebuild for success at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027,” said Haynes.
The three-match ODI series will commence with the first two matches set to be contested at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on December 3 and 6. The series will then advance to Barbados, where the final ODI will be played at the renowned Kensington Oval on December 9.
The full West Indies squad assembled for the series includes Shai Hope as captain, Alzarri Joseph as vice-captain, and players Alick Athanaze, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Kjorn Ottley, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, and Oshane Thomas.
With fresh talent and seasoned players, the West Indies team looks forward to bringing a new level of excitement and competitive spirit to the series, hoping to lay the foundation for a resurgence in their ODI form towards the goal of future World Cup success. Fans across the globe are setting their sights on what promises to be a thrilling cricket contest in the Caribbean.