Jason Holder and Andre Russell have been rested from an otherwise full-strength West Indies squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa.
The only two other players from West Indies’ T20 World Cup squad not to make the cut are Alzarri Joseph, also rested as he was from the Test series against the Proteas, and Kyle Mayers, who was a late call-up to that tournament following injuries to Brandon King - who remains absent - and Holder.
“Andre Russell, requested a period of rest and recovery as well as Jason Holder who played five back-to-back Tests against England and South Africa,” said Miles Bascombe, Cricket West Indies director of cricket. “Moreover, we made the determination to continue Alzarri Joseph on his period of rest. In addition, Brandon King remains in rehabilitation from an injury sustained during the World Cup. During this period, they all will work closely with the CWI science and medicine team.”
The group named is an encouraging one for West Indies. That Russell is officially rested indicates that his international career is not yet at an end, despite him teasing a potential retirement ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. “I still have a lot left in the tank,” he said last December. “But, you know, based on discussions with the coach, I told him that after the World Cup I would walk away from international cricket, but if they need me, I will come out of retirement.”
The presence of Nicholas Pooran is also a boon. He was one of several players to turn down a central contract offer, while also indicating that they would remain available for T20I selection in the following year. Even following the T20 World Cup, the agreement appears in tact.
Following the disappointment of a first-round exit in the 2022 T20 World Cup, West Indies have re-established themselves as one of the world’s premier sides. They have won four of their last five bilateral series and narrowly failed to make the semi-finals of the global event on home soil. South Africa beat them to make the knockouts before qualifying for their first-ever men’s World Cup final, which they lost in heartbreaking fashion to India. This series, taking place entirely in Trinidad between August 23 and 27, offers both sides a chance to assuage some of the pain from that event, and to look forward to an improvement in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
West Indies squad for South Africa T20Is: Rovman Powell (c), Roston Chase, (vc), Alick Athanaze, Fabian Allen, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd.
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