Shimron Hetmyer Returns to West Indies ODI Squad for Series Against England
Athanaze, who had been part of the opening pair, lost his place to Evin Lewis in the third ODI against Sri Lanka. Lewis marked his return to ODIs after more than three years with an impressive unbeaten 102 runs off 61 balls, helping West Indies secure a consolation victory.
Shimron Hetmyer has made his way back into the West Indies ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against England, starting Thursday in Antigua. His inclusion comes as the only change to the squad that recently toured Sri Lanka, replacing Alick Athanaze.
Hetmyer last featured in ODIs in December 2023 during a successful series against England, where the West Indies claimed a 2-1 victory. He missed the recent tour of Sri Lanka due to personal reasons, but he showcased his form by finishing fifth on the run-scorers' list in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Athanaze, who had been part of the opening pair, lost his place to Evin Lewis in the third ODI against Sri Lanka. Lewis marked his return to ODIs after more than three years with an impressive unbeaten 102 runs off 61 balls, helping West Indies secure a consolation victory.
Shai Hope will captain the squad, which includes 17-year-old batting talent Jewel Andrew, who made his international debut at the end of the Sri Lanka series. England, led by Liam Livingstone for the ODI segment while Jos Buttler continues his recovery from a calf injury, have already arrived in the Caribbean for their third limited-overs tour since 2022.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy expressed enthusiasm for the series, highlighting the historical rivalry between the two teams. "Playing against England always provides a new challenge," Sammy stated, emphasizing the team's readiness to compete against a strong English side. "This rivalry goes back for decades, and after defeating them last year at home for the first time in a long time in an ODI series, we're ready to face the challenge of a strong England squad again."
The first two ODIs will take place at Antigua's Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, followed by the series moving to Barbados. After the ODIs, there will be a series of five T20Is played at the Kensington Oval and the Daren Sammy National Stadium in St. Lucia.
West Indies ODI Squad:
Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.
