New Delhi: After concluding the Asia Cup 2025, the Indian team will lock horns with the West Indies in the two-Test match series starting from October 2 in Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The visitors have confirmed that their star pacer, Shamar Joseph, was ruled out of the India Test series earlier this week.
Now, the West Indies Cricket confirmed that another top pacer, Alzarri Joseph, suffered issues with his back and felt discomfort in his previous lower-back injury after the scans. The Men in Maroon picked up a pace trio (Alzarri, Shamar, and Jayden Seales) for the Indian Test series, but now out of three, Shamar and Alzarri will not be participating in the Test series.
Earlier, Johann Layne was named as the replacement for Shamar, but now a rising West Indian pacer, Jediah Blades, will be replacing Alzarri for the series. Notably, West Indies selectors contacted Jason Holder to join the squad after Alzarri was ruled out, but the former skipper rejected the offer due to medical reasons.
Shamar and Alzarri were the top wicket-takers for the West Indies in their last three-Test match series against Australia. Shamar scalped 22 wickets at an average of just 14.95 in three matches, including one five-fer against the Aussies.
Whereas, Alzarri picked up 13 wickets at an average of 20.38 in three matches. Now, Jayden Seales will be leading the pace attack for the West Indies with two inexperienced young fast bowlers against India.
more to follow….