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JE Sports Desk:  West Indies have announced their squad for the first Test of a two-match series against India starting July 12.

The spin-bowling all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall has returned to the Test side almost after two years, having played his last game in November 2021.

Cornwall has been named in the 13-member squad as the hosts gear up for the first Test to be played in Dominica. Apart from Cornwall, the hosts have named a couple of uncapped batters in their squad including Kirk Mckenzie and Alick Athanaze.

 

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Cornwall, an allrounder who bowls off-spin, has made the cut with first-choice spinner Gudakesh Motie unavailable due to an injury. Left-arm spinner Jomer Warrican has also been named in the squad.

“We are without Motie, who is doing his rehabilitation, and this has created an opportunity for Warrican and Cornwall in the spin bowling department," Chief Selector Desmond Haynes said.

“They have both played at Test match level before and are capable of doing the job," he added.

McKenzie impressed the management and selectors during West Indies A series with Bangladesh A.

“We were very impressed with the approach to batsmanship of McKenzie and Athanaze on the recent ‘A’ Team tour of Bangladesh. These are two young players who got good scores and played with great maturity, and we believe they deserve an opportunity," Haynes said.

The duo of Kyle Mayers and Jayden Seales are still recovering from respective injuries and hence have been excluded for the time being.

 

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“We had Jayden Seales here in the camp and he has made good progress during his rehab from surgery. However, we felt he is not yet quite ready to return, and we don’t want to risk him at this stage. Kyle Mayers was also considered but he has some niggles, and the precaution is not to have him in the rigors of a five-day match at this stage," Haynes said.

Kraigg Brathwaite will continue to lead the Test side with Jermaine Blackwood as his deputy.

West Indies squad for 1st Test:  Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood (vc), Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican

Traveling Reserves: Tevin Imlach, Akeem Jordan

India's squad for Test series:  Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.

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