West Indies recall Hetmyer, Thomas for India ODIs

25.07.2023 - 06:03 channelnewsasia.com

West Indies have recalled left-handed batsman Shimron Hetmyer and fast bowler Oshane Thomas for the three-match One Day International series against India beginning at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday.

Former captains Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder were not available for selection, while all-rounder Keemo Paul missed out with injury, Cricket West Indies said in a statement on Monday. "We welcome Oshane and Shimron back into the group," chief selector Desmond Haynes said in the statement."Both have played at the international level before, with some success, and we believe they will fit well into the set-up."Oshane brings pace and is a potential wicket-taker with the new ball.

Shimron's style of batting will offer a lot, especially in the middle stage of the innings, and he is also a potential finisher."Fast bowler Jayden Seales and leg-spinner Yannic Cariah have been included following their rehabilitation from surgery.

Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie has also been drafted in following his recovery from a lower-back injury. Two-time champions West Indies failed to qualify for this year's ODI World Cup in India and lost the two-test series against India 1-0.

cricket stage West Indies Brandon King Nicholas Pooran Shai Hope Kyle Mayers Jayden Seales Shimron Hetmyer India Barbados

Nicholas Pooran looked in top form as he slammed 41 off just 34 deliveries in the first T20I encounter between India and West Indies in Tarouba. He came into the match on the back of a successful Major Cricket League (MLC) campaign and he looked quite comfortable against the Indian bowling attack. The action now shifts to Providence Stadium in Guyana - a ground where Pooran has been quite successful in the past couple of games. In the last ODI he played at this venue, Pooran scored 73 against Bangladesh in 2022. During the same tour, West Indies face Bangladesh in a T20I match in Guyana and Pooran was once again the star as he scored 74 off 39 balls with five four and five sixes. India trail 0-1 in the five-match series and if the trend continues, Pooran can prove to be a major problem for the visitors.

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West Indies stunned Hardik Pandya-led India by four runs to bag the first T20I of the the five-match series on Thursday. Chasing a modest 150-run target at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, the tourists faltered and failed to make a comeback. Earlier, India put a good effort with the ball by restricting the West Indies at 149 for 6 in 20 overs. However, former India batter Aakash Chopra is not pleased with the captaincy of Hardik. He stated that the India captain "missed a trick" during their bowling against West Indies.

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The Indian playing XI for the second ODI against West Indies in Barbados on Saturday had a different look as regular captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were not part of it. Hardik Pandya stood in for Rohit, the skipper. "Few questions need to be answered for us, so Virat and Rohit are resting. They can be fresh for the third ODI. The way we bowled was impressive. The way we caught was great, it changed the momentum. I think when you get someone out for 115, it's a good effort from the bowlers. Our catching was impressive, but we can improve in certain areas. Instead of losing five wickets, we could have lost only two wickets and finished the last game. Sanju Samson and Axar Patel come in for Rohit and Virat," stand-in captain Hardik Pandya said at the toss.