West Indies Announced ODI Squad for England Series in Anticipation of 2027 World Cup

In anticipation of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, West Indies announced their ODI squad on Tuesday (November 21) for the upcoming series against England, signaling a fresh start in the 50-over format. Despite being the victors of the first two World Cup editions, the Caribbean team faced an unprecedented setback by failing to qualify for the recently concluded World Cup in India.

Marking the first-ever absence of West Indies in a World Cup, the two-time champions are determined to rectify their course in the forthcoming series, aiming to lay the groundwork for success in the next World Cup. Chief selector and former opening batsman Desmond Haynes emphasized the team’s commitment to rebuilding and preparing for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027.

“England’s tour of the West Indies is always filled with excitement and expectation,” remarked Haynes. “We anticipate a hard-fought series, but we have confidence that this squad will excel in our home conditions. Our overarching goal is to construct a robust team with a clear vision, focusing on the rebuilding process for success at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027,” he added.

West Indies Announced Squad for England Series, Shai Hope Retains Captaincy

Shai Hope will continue to lead the West Indies side in the upcoming ODI series against England, with fast-bowler Alzarri Joseph appointed as his deputy. Notably, Jason Holder and Nicholas Pooran have been omitted from the ODI squad. The West Indies selectors have introduced uncapped allrounders Sherfane Rutherford and Matthew Forde to the squad, along with the inclusion of Shane Dowrich and Kjorn Ottley.

The three-match ODI series is set to kick off on December 3 in Antigua. In a bid to rebound from a disappointing World Cup campaign where they couldn’t defend their title, England, led by Jos Buttler, will be seeking better results. They concluded the tournament in the seventh spot on the league table, managing only three wins in nine games.

West Indies Squad for England: Shai Hope (c), Alzarri Joseph (vc), Alick Athanaze, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Kjorn Ottley, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas.

ODI Schedule:

• First ODI: December 3, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
• Second ODI: December 6, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
• Third ODI: December 9, Kensington Oval, Barbados