Shepherd ready to replace Bravo on New Zealand tour
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has been ruled out of the upcoming tour of New Zealand due to a groin injury. The experienced 37year-old sustained the injury on Saturday whilst playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Bravo, the two- time T20 World Cup winner, will now return to Trinidad to continue his rehabilitation. He will be replaced by Romario Shepherd, the 25-year-old all-rounder, who made his international debut last year against Afghanistan. He has so far played five One- Day Internationals and two T20 Internationals (T20Is).
The defending ICC T20 World Cup champions will visit New Zealand from November 27 to December 15. They will start the tour with three T20Is, followed by two Test matches as part of the ICC World Test Championship.
Bravo said: “I was really looking forward to the tour of New Zealand as it has been so many months since I last wore maroon in Sri Lanka back in March and we are all so excited about building towards defending our T20 World Cup next year. Unfortunately, the injury I sustained on Saturday playing for CSK has not only ruled me out of the IPL but also the tour. I’m making arrangements to return to Trinidad over the next few days where I will continue my rehab and treatment. I’m fully committed to representing the West Indies and I just need to get myself stronger again.”
Guyanese Shepherd said it was an opportunity for him and he wanted to make the best of it.
“This is a great opportunity for me, and I want to take it with both hands. I was in the team before, last year and earlier this year, so I have a good feel of the game at this level. I’ve been training hard and working at all areas of my game so I’m ready.”
FULL SQUADS
T20I Squad
Kieron Pollard (captain) Fabian Allen
Sheldon Cottrell
Andre Fletcher
Shimron Hetmyer Brandon King
Kyle Mayers
Rovman Powell
Keemo Paul
Nicholas Pooran Romario Shepherd Oshane Thomas Hayden Walsh Jr Kesrick Williams
Test Squad
Jason Holder (captain) Jermaine Blackwood Kraigg Brathwaite Darren Bravo
Shamarh Brooks
John Campbell Roston Chase Rahkeem Cornwall Shane Dowrich Shannon Gabriel Shimron Hetmyer Chemar Holder Alzarri Joseph Keemo Paul
Kemar Roach
Test Reserves Nkrumah Bonner Joshua DaSilva Preston McSween Shayne Moseley Raymon Reifer Jayden Seales
MATCH SCHEDULE
November 27: 1st T20I at Eden Park, Auckland
November 29: 2nd T20I at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui November 30: 3rd T20I at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui December 3-7: 1st Test at Seddon Park, Hamilton
December 11-15: 2nd Test at Basin Reserve, Wellington.