Roach Recalled as West Indies Name Squad for New Zealand Test Challenge

The West Indies have turned to experience for their upcoming World Test Championship assignment, recalling veteran seamer Kemar Roach to a 15-man squad for the three-Test series in New Zealand next month.

Roach’s return comes as the Caribbean side deals with significant injury absences in their pace attack, with first-choice quicks Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph both still sidelined. The squad also features a new face in right-arm seamer Ojay Shields, who earned his maiden call-up following impressive performances for West Indies A against South Africa A.

All-rounder Kavem Hodge has also been recalled, while spinner Khary Pierre has been omitted from the group that will be led by Roston Chase, with Jomel Warrican as his deputy.

The series, which begins in Christchurch on December 1, represents a crucial opportunity for the West Indies to register their first points in the current World Test Championship cycle.

West Indies director of cricket Miles Bascombe expressed confidence in the team’s preparation, highlighting a recent high-performance camp in Antigua designed to replicate New Zealand’s pace-friendly conditions.

“New Zealand has traditionally been one of the toughest places for any touring side,” Bascombe said. “That level of intentional preparation, combined with the advantage of several squad members already in New Zealand for the white-ball portion of the tour… means this group goes into this series as well-prepared as any West Indies squad to tour there in recent years.”

West Indies Test Squad: Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Ojay Shields

                                               

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