West Indies name strongest possible squad for Test tour of South Africa

West Indies will soon tour South Africa for a full-fledged series

West Indies have named a full-strength 18-member Test squad for their tour of South Africa next month. This will be the team’s first series after they withdrew mid-way through the bilateral series against India last month.

"Of course at all times the selection panel aims to select the best and strongest team available. We look forward to this squad giving a good account of themselves for the three Tests in South Africa,” Clive Lloyd, the chairman of the selection panel, said.

The team from the Caribbean islands are scheduled to play 3 Test matches in the series, lasting from December 17 till January 6. The Test matches will be followed by a 3-match T20 series and a 5-match ODI series between the two countries.

"There is a significant amount of international cricket to be played over the next six months, including Test matches against some of the higher ranked teams in world cricket and as such it would be critical for the squad to get off on a positive note in South Africa,” Lloyd added.

Players given deadline of November 18

A statement released by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said that the players will have to sign the contracts for the tour by November 18 at the latest.

"All players selected have been notified of their selection and that their selection is contingent upon their signing of the Match Tour Contract which was sent to each player selected on Tuesday November 11. The deadline for the return of signed Match Tour Contracts to the WICB is 5pm (ECT), Tuesday, November 18,” the statement read.

The team is scheduled to depart for the tour on November 30.

Test squad

Denesh Ramdin (capt), Sulieman Benn, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Leon Johnson, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton.