Cricket West Indies announced a change of leadership on Monday (March 31), with Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite stepping down from his role. We look at the potential candidates who can replace him.
During their quarterly press conference, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced that along with Brathwaite stepping down as Test captain, T20I skipper Rovman Powell will also leave his role, with ODI captain Shai Hope taking over in the shortest format as well. As for Brathwaite's replacement, CWI have said that they would name his successor in the coming weeks, with Daren Sammy soon to take over as head coach. Who could be given the role?
Read: West Indies Test captain steps down, new T20I skipper announced
Shai Hope
Hope last played Test cricket in December 2021. From 38 Test matches, he averages 25 with the bat, making just two hundreds - famously in the same game at Headingley in 2017. He hasn't even been a regular in the first-class circuit. Following his last Test match, Hope has played four first-class matches, two for Yorkshire and two for Barbados, scoring 345 runs at 49.2, but only one of those games has come this year.
There's little in his first-class record to suggest there might be a spot for him in the West Indies Test XI, but Hope's struggles to nail the red ball have always been a puzzle. Upright and technically correct, he has always looked to have the materials to build a Test career of note, and his ODI success shows a player capable of consistent scoring. If West Indies are looking at a complete overhaul, they might just put all their eggs in one basket and appoint Hope as the all-format captain. He has done well leading the West Indies ODI side, winning 15 out of 29 matches and has evolved as a T20 batter as well. While he has no experience leading a first-class side, if he has to return to the Test setup, as a player and as a leader, now would be the time.
Alick Athanaze
Athanaze's Test record stands at an average of 25 from 13 Tests with no centuries to his name yet. But he has often been thrown in the deep end, having to bat through collapses on tough wickets. At present, Athanaze is arguably the only batter apart from Brathwaite who is assured of a spot in the Test XI. If West Indies don't want to burden any of their bowlers (or wicketkeepers) with the added responsibility of captaincy, Athanaze would be their go-to man. Unlike Hope, Athanaze does have first-class leadership experience, winning seven and losing only three out of the 15 first-class games he has led in.
Jayden Seales
Arguably the best player in the West Indies Test setup at the moment, Seales is yet to captain a side in a first-class game. While being the best player in the team does not necessarily mean one would be the best captaincy candidate, it does increase their chances of being given the armband. His skill as a bowler suggests a player with the tactical acumen needed for Test leadership, and his ambition works in his favour too.
Also read: Jayden Seales: My goal is to break into the world's top three Test bowlers
Joshua da Silva
Wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva is the designated vice-captain of the West Indies Test team, which should automatically make him the favourite to take over from Brathwaite. While he has never led the West Indies, he has captained West Indies A eight times. Overall, da Silva has experience of leading in 20 first-class games, winning eight and losing seven.
However, Da Silva was dropped from the XI for West Indies' last Test series, against Pakistan, as they gave a debut to Amir Jangoo and had Tevin Imlach keep wicket. If CWI feel da Silva is no longer a sure starter, that immediately takes away his captaincy candidature.
A wildcard
There are several other players CWI can potentially appoint as the Test captain. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie is all but guaranteed a spot in the first XI (except in extremely seam friendly conditions where West Indies might not want a spinner), while Alzarri Joseph is a high-quality seamer who now has nearly nine years of Test-match experience. Some left-field options include batter Kavem Hodge or even the one-Test old Jangoo.
However, with Darren Sammy also taking over as the Test head coach starting April 2025 along with the limited-overs role, the (slight) favourite to take over West Indies' Test captaincy at the moment seems to be Hope, who has had a good working relationship with Sammy.
