West Indies announce their new captain for Test format

May 16, 2025 marked the beginning of a new era for West Indies cricket as it named Roston Chase as the Test captain. The 33-year-old all-rounder, who had not played Test cricket since March 2023, replaces Kraigg Brathwaite, who was a consistent leader, particularly in setting the record of most consecutive Test matches played, previously held by Garfield Sobers with 86 matches.

Chase, who has 49 Tests under his belt, is renowned for his match-winning performances, including his 2016 heroics against India when he hit an unbeaten 137 and took 5 for 121 to help England snatch a thriller of a draw. Head coach Daren Sammy has poured his entire backing into Chase, praising his leadership skills and appealing to the cricket world to support the new captain as the team sets out to build a bright future, with spinner Jomel Warrican named vice-captain.

A Challenging Road Ahead

Chase is presented with a direct challenge as captain in the form of a three-Test series against Australia, starting June 25, 2025, at Bridgetown—a stiff task for someone coming back to the format after more than two years. The West Indies have demonstrated that they are capable of hanging with Australia as they drew a series 1-1 in 2024, which had a historic 8-run win in the second Test, their first on Australian soil since 1997.

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Chase is currently also a member of the West Indies team for a white-ball tour of England, beginning May 29, that offers a crucial chance to find match rhythm before the Test series. With his established record as an all-rounder and the approval of the coaching staff, Chase can become the leader who guides West Indies into a new era of Test cricket. The coming series against Australia will provide the turning point for Chase to demonstrate his worth and motivate the team to capitalize on their recent achievements.