Rahkeem Cornwall, Shamarh Brooks new faces in West Indies Test squad vs India

The West Indies cricket team announced a 13-man squad for the upcoming two-Test series against India which begins on August 22 at the Sir Viv Richards stadium in Antigua. The side will be led by Jason Holder and it includes two new faces in Rahkeem Cornwall and Shamarh Brooks. However, the squad sees the exclusion of Alzarri Joseph, who was in the Indian Premier League but has not recovered from injury. The two-Test series will be the first for both West Indies and India in the new World Test Championship.

Cornwall has been a consistent figure in the West Indies domestic circuit for Leeward Islands. The right-hander was in the West Indies A team in the recently concluded series against India A. Batting lower down the order, Cornwall smashed two centuries and he picked up four wickets in the first unofficial 'Test' at North Sound.

In 55 First Class matches, he has scored 2224 runs and has taken 260 wickets with 17 five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket hauls. The other new face in the West Indies team, Shamarh Brooks, also played in the West Indies A series and smashed two fifties in the 'Tests' against India. Brooks plays for Barbados and has an average of 33 in First Class matches.

BREAKING: West Indies release squad for Test v India in Antigua & Jamaica! #WIRally #MenInMaroon #ItsOurGame

Squad details below!
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— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) August 9, 2019

Rahkeem has been performing consistently over a long period of time and has proven to be a match-winner, so we believe his elevation to the Test squad is merited at this time. We believe he can provide an attacking option to our bowling attack with his sharp turn and extra bounce. He can also lend a bit of depth to the batting, so we are looking forward to him coming into the squad and making a valuable contribution," Robert Haynes, the head of Cricket West Indies' interim selection panel said. 

West Indies squad

Jason Holder (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich (wk), Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer Shai Hope, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach

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HIGHLIGHTS

• West Indies and India will play their first series in World Test Championship.
• Alzarri Joseph has not recovered from injury.
• West Indies defeated England in their last Test series at home.