“Balanced” Team Picked for Windies ODIs vs England

Cricket West Indies has announced a 15-man squad for the One Day International (ODI) series against England, starting on Thursday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua & Barbuda.

A notable highlight is the return of Guyanese batsman Shimron Hetmyer, who has been absent from the West Indies ODI team for over a year.

During this time, Hetmyer remained active in T20 leagues worldwide, playing for several top franchises. His reintroduction provides much-needed firepower to the lineup as the team wraps up its last series of the year.

The Men in Maroon will play three ODIs and three T20 internationals at home throughout November.

Traditionally strong on home soil, the West Indies have won 23 of their encounters against England in the Caribbean since their first meeting in 1981, compared to England’s 17 wins. However, recent momentum has swung in England’s favor, with the visitors winning the last four ODIs in the Caribbean.

This squad remains mostly the same as the one fielded against Sri Lanka earlier this month, a series the Windies lost 2-1. Notable by their absence are Andre Russell, Akeal Hossein, and Nicholas Pooran, who, along with Hetmyer, had previously opted out of the Sri Lanka series, citing “personal reasons.”

Their decisions raised speculation about a possible rift between the players and team management, though Hetmyer’s return seems to indicate this may not apply to his situation.

West Indies CG United ODI Squad:

Shai Hope (Captain)  
Jewel Andrew  
Keacy Carty  
Roston Chase  
Matthew Forde  
Shimron Hetmyer  
Alzarri Joseph  
Shamar Joseph  
Brandon King  
Evin Lewis  
Gudakesh Motie  
Sherfane Rutherford  
Jayden Seales  
Romario Shepherd  
Hayden Walsh Jr.

Previewing the series, Head Coach Daren Sammy emphasised the significance of the rivalry and the importance of playing on home soil. “Playing against England always provides a new challenge and reignites a rivalry that the players and the people of the Caribbean are eager for. Somehow, we West Indies always find a way to raise our game when we face England,” he said.

“This rivalry goes back for decades, and after defeating them last year at home for the first time in a long time in an ODI series, we’re ready to face the challenge of a strong England squad again. It’s always special to play at home, where the local support brings energy and passion to every match. With our sights set on qualifying for the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2027, we’ve selected a balanced squad that will no doubt push and compete with one of the best teams in the world.”

The series opener begins at 2 PM local time, with the West Indies team looking to make a strong start on familiar ground.