A new look West Indies team is visting India for the test series.
West Indies will take on India in two Test matches starting October 4 in Rajkot. While West Indies players like Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo or Evin Lewis are well known in India thanks to IPL and other T20 leagues- the West Indies test squad is a different matter.
Many in India will be surprised to know that the Windies side has lost only one Test match in 2018. They beat Bangladesh 2-0 in a home Test series in September and drew the series against Sri Lanka.
The young and eager team will be looking to surprise India in their own den. Let's meet the West Indies team.
1. Jason Holder (captain)
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The 6 feet 7 inches tall Jason Holder was made the captain just one year after his test debut during a time of great turnmoil in the West Indies cricket. Surprisingly, Holder has grown better as a captain and a player. Under him West Indies pulled off a stunning test win against England in 2017.
As a bowler, he is known for hitting the deck hard and extracting extra bounce. He is a also a handy batsman, lower down the order with an average over 30 in 34 Test matches.
(Image: AFP)
2. Sunil Ambris
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Sunil Ambris may be the player with the most bizarre debut Test series. He has played just 2 Tests so far and has scored 25 runs. Ambris became the first batsman in Test cricket to get out hit-wicket for a golden duck on his debut. He was out hit-wicket again in his next match and ended up breaking his arm.
Back after a year, he has raised hopes with a century in the warm-up game.
(Image: Twitter @WindiesCricket)
3. Devendra Bishoo
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Devendra Bishoo will be West Indies leading bowler in the series. The leg spinner is well known name in T20 cricket and has picked up more than 100 wickets in 32 Tests. The 2011 ICC Emerging Player should thrive on helpful Indian wickets.
(Image: AFP)
4. Kraigg Brathwaite
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Kraigg Brathwaite is perhaps the best batsman in this side. He has been at the center of all of their biggest Test wins in this decade- against New Zealand in 2014, Pakistan in 2016 and England in 2017. He has played 49 Test so far with 3263 runs to his name.
Brathwaite is known for his focus and concentration at the crease- something he will need plenty of during this series.
(Image: AFP)
5. Roston Chase
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Roston Chase is the perfect Test all-rounder. While he takes some crucial wickets with his off-spin, he is more famous for his dogged batting lower down the order- someone who can save a match for you. He has played 22 matches with 1242 runs and 37 wickets.
(Image: AFP)
6. Shane Dowrich (wicketkeeper)
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The wicketkeeper batsman Shane Dowrich is know for putting a huge price on his wicket. He has played 23 Test matches so far with 1034 runs.
(Image: AFP)
7. Shannon Gabriel
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The Trinidadian pacer Shannon Gabriel is an indispensable part of the team. He is one of the few West Indies players in this side to have played in India before. He has 111 wickes from 37 matches in Test cricket.
(Image: AFP)
8. Jahmar Hamilton
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Jahmar Hamilton is a flamboyant wicket-keeper batsman who may make his Test debut in this series. He has been a regular member of the Windies A team and may play as a pure batsman with Shane Dowrich.
(Image: Twitter @WindiesCricket)
9. Shimron Hetmyer
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Shimron Hetmyer led West Indies to the U-19 World Cup win in 2016. The young batsman has made his place in the white-ball cricket but is yet to peform in the longer format.
(Image: AFP)
10. Shai Hope
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Shai Hope scored hundreds in both innings in the famous West Indies against England in 2017. Touted as one of the future stars of Windies cricket, this series will be learning curve for him. He has 1210 runs to his name from 22 Tests.
(Image: AFP)
11. Sherman Lewis
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Sherman Lewis, the medium pacer from the Windward Islands, has been called up to replace the injured Alzarri Joseph. Lewis is yet to make his international debut, but impressed for the Windies during the tour of England with the ‘A’ squad earlier this year, when he picked up four-wicket hauls in each innings of the first four-day match against India A.
(Image: Facebook)
12. Keemo Paul
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Keemo Paul is one of talented fast-bowler around but has not yet become a regular feature in the Test cricket squad. He made his debut against Bangladesh in July and took three wickets. However, Paul is more famous for his 'controversial' mankading a Zimbabwe batsman during 2016 U1-9 World Cup.
(Image: AFP)
13. Kieran Powell
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This 36-test veteran has also had short baseball career. He is powerful left-handed opening batsman who has 1881 runs to his name.
(Image: AFP)
14. Kemar Roach
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With 163 wickets and 48 test matches under his belt, Kemar Roach is perhaps the best pacer in the West Indies side. He is an extremely talented quick bowler, hailing from the land of the great fast bowlers, Barbados.
(Image: AFP)
15. Jomel Warrican
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Another one from Barbados, Jomel Warrican is a left-arm spinner and may feature in the side. He has 11 wickets from his 4 Tests so far.
(Image: AFP)
