Shields earns maiden call-up as WI gear up for NZ tests

Ojay Shields has earned his maiden call-up to the West Indies 15-member Test squad for the three-match series against New Zealand, set to begin next month.

Shields’ inclusion comes at a crucial time for the team. With frontline pacers Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph sidelined due to injuries, Shields joins veteran Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales to form a young and largely inexperienced pace attack.

The Jamaican fast bowler has played 16 first class matches and taken 34 wickets.

Middle-order batsman Kavem Hodge has also been recalled to the side. Hodge, who last featured in a Test match for the Windies against Pakistan in early January, has played 11 Tests and scored 556 runs at an average of 25.27.

Those traveling from the Caribbean joined the rest of the squad in New Zealand on November 20, giving them considerable time to become acclimatised and take part in a two-day warm-up match against a New Zealand XI in Lincoln, Christchurch ahead of the Test series.

CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, said all efforts had been made to ensure the squad was one of the best-prepared groups for an away tour to New Zealand.

“New Zealand has traditionally been one of the toughest places for any touring side, which is why strong emphasis has been placed on targeted preparation. The recent high-performance camp here in Antigua was designed to replicate, as closely as possible, the conditions we expect to face, particularly the pace-friendly surfaces,” he said.

“That level of intentional preparation, combined with the advantage of several squad members already in New Zealand for the white-ball portion of the tour gaining valuable time to acclimate, means this group goes into this series as well-prepared as any West Indies squad to tour there in recent years.”

The series forms part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship and will be the West Indies’ final fixture for 2025.

West Indies Test Squad to New Zealand:

Roston Chase (Captain)

Jomel Warrican (Vice- Captain)

Alick Athanaze

John Campbell

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Justin Greaves

Kavem Hodge

Shai Hope

Tevin Imlach

Brandon King

Johann Layne

Anderson Phillip

Kemar Roach

Jayden Seales

Ojay Shields

Team Management Unit (TMU)

Head Coach: Daren Sammy

Manager: Rawl Lewis

Assistant Coach (Batting): Floyd Reifer

Assistant Coach (Bowling): Ravi Rampaul

Assistant Coach (Fielding): Rayon Griffith

Physiotherapist: Dr Denis Byam

Mental Skills/Performance Coach: Krisnan Hurdle

Strength & Conditioning Coach: Darc Browne

Massage Therapist: Fitzbert Alleyne

Performance Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram

Content & Media Officer: Jerome Foster

FULL TOUR SCHEDULE (Caribbean Time) 

Two-Day Warm-Up Match: November 25-26, Lincoln, Christchurch

1st Test: December 1-5 – Hagley Oval, Christchurch @6pm AST/5pm in Jamaica

2nd Test: December 9-13 – Basin Reserve, Wellington @6pm AST/5pm in Jamaica

3rd Test:  December 17- 21 – Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui @6pm AST/5pm in Jamaica.

(CMC/CWI)