Left-handed batsman Chris Gayle has not been picked for West Indies’ squad against India in a two-match Test series while off-spinning all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall has been drafted in.
Gayle, 39, had said he would retire from international cricket after the home Test series against India, starting 22 August. He last played a five-day game in September 2014.
Meanwhile, Alzarri Joseph, who was part of the team that beat England earlier this year and also made a splash in the Indian Premier League (IPL), was also not named in the squad on Friday as he is still recovering from injury.
Talking about Cornwall, the 26-year-old has been rewarded for his impressive record for Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the West Indies Championship and the West Indies “A” Team, since making his first-class debut just under five years ago. Cornwall has taken 260 wickets at 23.90 apiece in 55 first-class matches and is highly regarded among his peers as one of the most effective spin bowlers in the Caribbean.
“Rahkeem has been performing consistently over a long period of time and has proven to be a match-winner, so we believe his elevation to the Test squad is merited at this time,” Robert Haynes, the head of Cricket West Indies’s interim selection panel, was quoted as saying.
“We believe he can provide an attacking option to our bowling attack with his sharp turn and extra bounce. He can also lend a bit of depth to the batting, so we are looking forward to him coming into the squad and making a valuable contribution.
West Indies Squad:
Jason Holder (Captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich (wicketkeeper), Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach