West Indies lose Alzarri Joseph due to back injury, with Jediah Blades named his replacement following Holder’s rejection.
Alzarri Joseph ruled out of India Test series with lower-back injury.
A lower-back ailment has forced Alzarri Joseph to miss the West Indies’ two-match Test series against India, which begins this week. Scans showed “a degeneration of the previously resolved lower-back injury” after Joseph complained of discomfort.
Jason Holder, who is currently playing for the T20I team in a three-match series against Nepal in the United Arab Emirates, declined to take Joseph’s position, citing a scheduled medical operation, according to a CWI release on Monday.
To replace Joseph, the West Indies have picked up Jediah Blades, a left-arm seamer. After Tuesday’s third T20I, Blades, 23, who is also in the UAE, will join the Test team.
Blades has participated in three ODIs and four T20Is thus far, but he remains uncapped in Test cricket. He has taken 35 wickets at an average of 35.91 in 13 first-class matches.
The speed attack of the West Indies is badly weakened by Joseph’s absence. Uncapped seam-bowling all-rounder Johann Layne took Shamar Joseph’s position after the latter was sidelined due to an injury last week. Jayden Seales is the only seam-bowling player on their roster with over 10 Test matches under their belt. They have skipper Roston Chase, Khary Pierre, and Jomel Warrican in the spin department.
Updated West Indies squad for India Test series
Roston Chase (capt), Jomel Warrican (vice-capt), Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Johann Layne, Jediah Blades, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales