West Indies vs India. (Pic source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)
West Indies have announced the squad for the second Test against India beginning on Thursday, July 20, at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad. The hosts were hammered in the first Test by an innings and 141 runs as they were bundled out for 150 and 130 in the two innings, respectively, courtesy of a 12-wicket haul by Ravichandran Ashwin.
Most of the players from the first Test have been retained, while the exciting young off-spinner Kevin Sinclair has been brought in place of all-rounder Raymon Reifer. Sinclair will provide an extra bowling option to the captain Kraigg Brathwaite.
Sinclair has already played in seven ODIs and six T20Is for West Indies and was also a part of the recent ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe. If given a chance to make his Test debut, he will be seen bowling in tandem with off-spinner Rakheem Cornwall.
The inclusion of an extra spinner could be a hint of the hosts preparing a spin-friendly track for the second Test as well. Notably, Ravichandran Ashwin wreaked havoc with the ball in the first game as West Indian batters were left dumbfounded by his variations.
Apart from Ashwin, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal also had a memorable game as he became the 17th Indian to score a hundred on his Test debut. The southpaw played a magnificent innings of 171 and etched his name in record books.
India open their account in WTC cycle 2023-25
With the win, India opened their account in the World Test Championship Cycle 2023-25 and got the valuable 12 points against their name. On the other hand, West Indies, who finished in the second last spot (eighth) in the previous cycle, have once again begun on a losing note and will be eager to turn things around in the next game.
West Indies squad for second Test: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kirk McKenzie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Jomel Warrican
Reserves: Tevin Imlach, Akeem Jordan