Pacer Keemo Paul has been drafted into the Windies squad and Kraigg Brathwaite will lead the team in the absence of Jason Holder in the third and final Test against England, the Windies Cricket Board announced.
Windies are 2-0 up in the three-Test series, which they sealed with a 10-wicket victory in the second Test in Antigua.
Holder, the incumbent skipper, is suspended for the Test following his second minor over-rate offence in the second Test. Brathwaite, his replacement at the helm, has led the hosts in four Tests to date.
Paul has featured in two Tests and has three wickets under his belt. He is currently in a rich vein of form and has clinched 20 wickets for Guyana in just three first-class games. The 20-year-old has also scored a handy 142 runs in the same period, which includes an unbeaten 66 against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain.
“With Jason Holder missing out on the last Test, Kraigg Brathwaite will take the reins of captaincy,” said Courtney Browne, the Windies Chairman of Selectors, on Monday, 4 February. “We also welcome Keemo Paul back to the squad. He is having a good showing in the West Indies first-class championship at the moment.
“The panel also takes this opportunity to congratulate the team and the support staff for the series victory and wish them all the best for the third and final match of the series.”
Windies and England play the third and final Test in St Lucia from 9 February.
