West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph won’t play in the upcoming Test series against India after picking up an injury, Cricket West Indies announced Friday. The team has called up 22-year-old all-rounder Johann Layne to replace him for the two-match series, set to kick off October 2 and wrap up by October 14.
Layne brings solid experience from 19 first-class matches. He’s scored 495 runs across 32 innings, including two fifties, and taken 66 wickets at an average of 22.28. He even has four five-wicket hauls under his belt.
Joseph, a rising star, has impressed in 11 Test matches with 51 wickets at a sharp average of 21.66. He burst onto the scene with a five-wicket haul on debut against Australia back in January 2024. CWI plans to reassess his fitness before the white-ball tour of Bangladesh, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is starting October 18.
This India series counts toward the ICC World Test Championship. It marks West Indies’ second outing in the new WTC cycle after their home battles against Australia in June and July. The Caribbean side hasn’t toured India for Tests since 2018, making this a big moment.
CWI revealed the 15-player squad last week, and it features some exciting additions. Left-arm spinner Khary Pierre earns his first Test call-up at age 33. He dominated the West Indies Championship this season, snagging 41 wickets at an impressive average of 13.56.
Openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze also return to the fold. Chanderpaul has 560 runs from 10 Tests and last played for West Indies in Australia in January 2024. Athanaze was part of the squad that drew a two-Test series in Pakistan earlier this year.
The updated West Indies squad for the Test series against India includes: Roston Chase (captain), Jomel Warrican (vice-captain), Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Johann Layne, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, and Jayden Seales.
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