The Cricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel announced six changes to the West Indies One-day International (ODI) Team for the tour to the Netherlands and Pakistan from 31 May, under new white ball captain Nicholas Pooran.
Batsmen Rovman Powell, Keacy Carty and allrounder Kyle Mayers have been added to the squad that was swept 3-0 by India in February, while Jayden Seales, Shermon Lewis and Anderson Phillip offer new bowling options to the squad.
They replace retired captain Kieron Pollard along with the veteran pair of batsman Darren Bravo and pacer Kemar Roach as well as allrounders Fabian Allen and Odean Smith.
CWI Media confirmed that allrounder Jason Holder, who plays in all formats for the West Indies, is also ‘rested to manage his workload’ while talented 25-year-old Guyanese batsman Shimron Hetmyer is unavailable as he asked to be home for the birth of his first child.
Hetmyer played in the regional four-day championship in February as well as in the ongoing 2022 IPL competition but ‘fitness issues’ have kept him from representing West Indies since the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup.
Another gifted West Indies batsman, opener Evin Lewis, has also not represented the ‘Maroon Men’ since the T20 World Cup and, according to selectors, the Trinidad and Tobago opener was ‘not considered for selection after failing to meet CWI’s fitness criteria’.
In their absence, 25-year-old Leeward Islands batsman Carter got his first full call-up—he was a Covid-19 reserve when West Indies hosted Ireland in January—and, in the process, became the first St Maarten cricketer to be named in a senior West Indies men’s team.
“We were impressed with Carty and the way he goes about his innings,” said CWI lead selector Dr Desmond Haynes. “We saw several glimpses of his ability the way he played against England earlier this year for the CWI President’s XI. We hope that giving him this opportunity he will recognise the importance of representing West Indies.
“We think he is a young batsman with great promise, and this is the kind of tour he can show he fits in.”
The Haynes-led selection panel again showed its willingness to use players across multiple formats with the selection of Seales and Lewis, who have previously represented West Indies only in the Test arena.
Seales, a 20-year-old Trinidadian, is in the current West Indies Test team while the 26-year-old Lewis, who was born in Grenada and represents the Windward Islands, played two Tests in 2018 against Bangladesh and India.
They are among five pacers in the Pooran-led ranks, which also include Alzarri Joseph, Romario Shepherd and Phillip.
“We also have a very good group of young fast bowlers who have demonstrated their ability and we want to use these two tours to give them opportunities in the 50-over format,” Haynes told the CWI Media. “We have a week in The Netherlands and another week in Pakistan and this should provide them with quality opposition to bowl against as we build towards the Cricket World Cup in 2023.
“Phillip has been around for some time, and we know what he can offer. Seales has been very good in Test cricket and Lewis is making a return to the West Indies set-up following some good performances.”
West Indies ODI Team: Nicholas Pooran (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Shermon Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Anderson Phillip, Rovman Powell, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.
West Indies tour of Netherlands
31 May: 1st ODI at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen
2 June: 2nd ODI at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen
4 June: 3rd ODI at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen
West Indies tour of Pakistan
8 June: 1st ODI at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi
10 June: 2nd ODI at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi
12 June: 3rd ODI at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi