![West Indies cricket team [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1784822725083_WestIndiesteam.jpg?type=hq)
West Indies cricket team [Source: AFP]
Cricket West Indies have announced their Test squad for the two-match Test series against Pakistan, which is set to begin on July 25. The 15-man squad will be led by Roston Chase, with Jomel Warrican serving as his deputy. The squad also features a maiden Test call-up for left-arm orthodox spinner Joshua Bishop as well.
The opening Test will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy from July 25 to 29, marking the first-ever men's Test match to be staged at the venue.
West Indies retain experienced core against Pakistan
The Caribbean side have largely retained the core group that secured a 1-0 Test series victory over Sri Lanka earlier this month. Kirk McKenzie has earned a recall to the squad after last playing in 2024, following John Campbell being ruled out with a left hamstring injury sustained during the recently concluded ODI series against New Zealand.
The key exclusion from the squad is fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who was unavailable for selection due to personal reasons. Apart from that, the pace attack will be spearheaded by Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach, and Jayden Seals, with the West Indies hoping for a bouncy surface that favours pace rather than spin against Pakistan.
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Caribbeans looking forward to end Pakistan's streak with Roston Chase at the helm
The West Indies will be eager to make the most of home conditions, especially considering Pakistan have not lost a Test series against the Caribbean side in the last 26 years.
Roston Chase and company will be hoping to end that streak and lead their side with pride, with experienced players such as Joshua Da Silva, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Alick Athanaze, Ameer Jangoo, and Brandon King expected to bolster the team's confidence.
West Indies Test Squad vs Pakistan: Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), Joshua Bishop, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope (wk), Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Kirk McKenzie, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales
West Indies Test record vs Pakistan
As the records show, Windies have won only 19 Test matches against Pakistan out of the 56 they have played, with a win-to-loss ratio of just 0.863. Even on home soil, Pakistan have triumphed eight times, while the Caribbeans have won 13 matches.
Although West Indies have managed to win two of their four Test matches against Pakistan in the 2020s, they have not won a Test series against the Men in Green in over two decades, and will be eyeing a strong performance in the upcoming series.
Among the captains who have led the team against Pakistan, only Gerry Alexander has been the most successful, registering four wins from the eight Tests he captained. In recent times, Carlos Brathwaite and Jason Holder have led Windies against Pakistan, with Brathwaite recording a win-to-loss ratio of 1.00, while Holder has a win-to-loss ratio of only 0.5.
New talent to add to the strong core
Nevertheless, Roston Chase will have a lot of responsibility on his shoulders to steer the team to victory. The new talent in the squad, Joshua Bishop, will be one of the resources Chase would like to utilise.
Bishop has been one of the most consistent bowlers in domestic cricket, claiming 91 wickets for Barbados Pride and the West Indies Academy across the past three West Indies Championship seasons.
Meanwhile, returning batter Kirk McKenzie has also performed well during this season's Championship, scoring 323 runs from six innings at an average of 64.60.
The first Test begins on July 25 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, the second Test will be played at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad from August 2 to August 6.
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