Chase heads changes for Windies A One-day squad

Roston Chase

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Test batsman Roston Chase heads the changes to the West Indies A squad for three One-day matches against England Lions.

Cricket West Indies announced yesterday a 13-member squad for the three matches which will be contested on March 6, 9 and 11 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground here.

Chase, the most prolific batsman in the recent Super50 Cup with 558 runs in 10 matches at an average of 62 for Super50 Cup runners-up Barbados Pride, heads the list of six changes from the “Test” squad.

The others coming into the squad are: Jamaica Scorpions batsman Andre McCarthy, whose 305 runs at 38.12 was the fifth-highest aggregate, right-handed batsman and part-time left-arm spinner Kavem Hodge from Super50 Cup champions Windward Islands Volcanoes, fellow batsman Chandrapaul Hemraj, along with his Guyana Jaguars teammates Romario Shepherd and Keemo Paul.

“This Windies ‘A’ One-day squad has a few new faces and these players have been identified based on their Super50 Cup performances,” said Chairman of the CWI selection panel, Courtney Browne.

“We are now looking forward to similar performances from the players in the One-day series that are worthy of challenging for senior team slots.

“Our performances in One-day Internationals at the senior level have not been consistent for a number of years now and we need to start identifying players that can help us to become a more consistent ODI team.”

The rest of the squad which will be captained by Kieran Powell with his Leeward Islands Hurricanes teammate Jahmar Hamilton as his deputy, comprises a number of Windies A regulars plus senior team players that have an opportunity to put forward their case.

From the “Test” side, missing out on the One-day series will be Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Shane Dowrich, Keon Joseph, Jeremiah Louis and Vishaul Singh.

The One-day series comes on the heels of the “Test” series which Windies A swept 3-0, bringing kudos from Browne.

“The ‘Test’ side had an outstanding series, and the panel would like to congratulate the team and coaching staff for a stellar performance against the English,” he said.

“The ‘Test’ squad reflected the majority of those players that have been with our Windies A programme for the last 18 months or more, plus some senior Test team players that needed to make justification for further senior Test match consideration. This allowed us to put out a strong squad against the England Lions.”

Squad:

Kieran Powell (Captain), Jahmar Hamilton (Vice Captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Kavem Hodge, Andre McCarthy, Keemo Paul, Raymon Reifer, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Jomel Warrican