Athanaze, Jordan in Take a look at facet for South Africa

Uncapped Alick Athanaze and Akeem Jordan have been named in a West Indies 15-man squad for the two-Take a look at tour of South Africa beginning at month finish.

Each gamers have been main performers within the first two rounds of the Regional First-Class Championship and exchange left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican and batsman Nkrumah Bonner, who’ve been dropped from the squad which toured Zimbabwe.

Alick Athanaze, 24, a left-handed batsman with 22 first-class matches, gathered 244 runs at a median of 61 for Windward Islands Volcanoes, following up on the 222 runs he scored final season. Extra considerably, he impressed with 100 within the second spherical final week, pummelling a advantageous 141 in opposition to Guyana Harpy Eagles.

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“Athanaze is likely one of the younger gamers who we’ve invested in, and he performed properly within the ‘A Group’ and CWI President’s XI,” mentioned chief selector Desmond Haynes. “He confirmed nice promise within the CG United Super50 final yr after which obtained his first hundred within the West Indies Championship final week.

“We imagine he ought to be given a possibility at this degree. He has additionally confirmed management, as captain of the Windwards at first of this season.”

Jordan, in the meantime, a 28-year-old right-arm seamer who has made simply 5 first-class appearances, picked up 12 wickets for Barbados Delight at 16 runs apiece. He additionally took 12 wickets from three matches within the 2022 marketing campaign, during which he made his first-class debut.

“Jordan has been very spectacular from final yr, he has continued to bowl properly, and has been glorious within the first two matches thus far this yr,” Haynes continued. “He’s very skilful, can bowl the brand new ball, and appears to place the ball in the best areas. He’s additionally a pointy fielder and good catcher near the wicket.”

Neither Warrican nor Bonner featured within the two Checks in opposition to Zimbabwe. Warrican’s final outing got here almost 15 months in the past and the success of fellow left-armer Gudakesh Motie in opposition to Zimbabwe is more likely to push him even additional to the margins.

Bonner, 34, was considered one of West Indies’ main Take a look at batsmen in 2021 however regardless of scoring 100 in opposition to England final March, has averaged solely ten from his final 5 Checks.

West Indies, who thrashed Zimbabwe by an innings and 4 runs on Tuesday in Bulawayo to take the two-match collection 1-0, will now flip their consideration to the far more difficult tour of South Africa.

They arrive in South Africa on Friday for 2 Checks – at SuperSport Park in Centurion from February 28 to March 4 and the Wanderers in Johannesburg from March 8-12.

Previous to the primary Take a look at, they tackle a South Africa Invitational XI in a four-day match beginning February 21.

SQUAD – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Akeem Jordan, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Devon Thomas

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