NZ vs WI : Roach, Dowrich return West Indies as Joshua Da Silva added to squad

West Indies will not have the services of Kemar Roach and Shane Dowrich for the second Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in Wellington. Now, Joshua Da Silva might stand behind the stumps after being added to the 14-member squad.

Kemar Roach has taken leave due to the death of his father and that is a big blow to the Windies side for the kind of impact Roach has had on the team in the last few years.

Even in a disappointing Test match for the visitors, which they lost by an innings and 134 runs, Roach was in his element, picking 3 for 114 in the first Test. Chemar Holder is the most like-to-like replacement for Roach and is expected to make his Test debut in Wellington.

Dowrich to go back home with Roach

Meanwhile, Dowrich’s case is a bit more complex. While the official reason stated that Dowrich will return back to Windies due to personal reasons, he has also suffered an injury during the first Test and did not bat in either innings.

His absence will give a chance to Joshua Da Silva to make his international debut. The promising 22-year-old has one first-class hundred in 17 first-class appearances while making 133* and 56* in an intra-squad warm-up match in Manchester earlier this year.

West Indies Test squad: Jason Holder (captain), Roston Chase (vice-capt), Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Chemar Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul

Standby: Nkrumah Bonner, Preston McSween