Cricket West Indies announce 17-man provisional squad for South Africa Tests, Jayden Seales included

Jayden Seales has been included in West Indies’ 17-man squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa, starting on June 10 at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium. The 19-year-old fast bowler doesn’t have a whole lot of experience under his belt, having played only one first-class, three List A, and six T20 matches after making his debut in August 2020.

However, he grabbed the limelight in the 2020 U19 World Cup where he picked up 10 wickets from six matches at an economy rate of 3.89. His best bowling figures of four for 49 came against Australia and it helped his team to a three-wicket victory. Seales was also a part of the Trinbago Knight Riders when the Kieron Pollard-led team won the 2020 Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

West Indies to cut down squad to 13

Seales also played a game for the Brathwaite XI against Roston Chase XI when the West Indies played a home series against Sri Lanka. In that game, Seales picked up four wickets. On Monday, June 7, the squad will be pruned down to 13 and it remains to be seen whether or not Seales can make the cut.

Fast bowler Chemar Holder missed the bus due to injury. Kraigg Brathwaite remains as the skipper after his impressive shows in the tour of Bangladesh and in the series against Lanka.

Squad

Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood (VC), Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican

The Caribbean team has also picked Nial Smith, Marquino Mindley, Keon Harding, and Preston McSween as net bowlers to help the squad prepare for the series. For the time being, West Indies are placed sixth in the points table in the World Test Championship with a win percentage of 33.3.

South Africa are seventh in the list with a win percentage of 30. Earlier this year, the Proteas also lost their Test series against Pakistan. On their tour of the West Indies, apart from the Tests, they will also play five T20Is at the National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada.