Uncapped Chase in WI Test squad
St. Kitts, July 12: Veteran wicketkeeper- batsman Denesh Ramdin was predictably dropped from the West Indies squad for the four- Test series against India while uncapped middle- order batsman Roston Chase earned his maiden call- up in the national side.
Chase, who also bowls offspin, had recently played in the two- day practice game against India where he managed only three runs. However his first- class average in 29 games stands at a healthy 42.87.
For Ramdin, who has been a part of the West Indies team for last 11 years, having played 74 Tests, a batting average of 25.87 became his undoing. He had in fact tweeted last week that he would be dropped as he has been informed about it by chairman of selectors and former glovesman Courtney Browne.
It also didn’t help matters that he was out of form in the recently concluded tri- series against South Africa and Australia, with only significant contribution being a 91 against the Aussies. Among others, left- hand batsman Leon Johnson was recalled but pacer Kemar Roach, who did not perform well against Australia during the away Test series last year, was dropped. Legspinner Devendra Bishoo is the only specialist slow bowler in the squad.
SQUAD: Jason Holder ( capt), Kraigg Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Rajendra Chandrika, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich ( wk), Shannon Gabriel, Leon Johnson, Marlon Samuels.