The West Indies selectors have named an unchanged team for the second Test of the Wisden Trophy series against England which gets underway on Thursday at the Sir Vivian Richards ground in Antigua.
Windies lead the three-match rubber 1-0 following their victory by 381 runs in the first Test at Kensington Oval in Barbados. The team defeated England although the odds were heavily stacked against them. Batting first the Windies made 289 and then routed England for an embarrassing 77.
Batting a second time, the Windies slumped to 120 for six before skipper Jason Holder and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich produced a record unbeaten 295-run partnership for the seventh wicket to take the Windies to 415/6 declared.
Chasing 628 runs for victory, England was bowled out for 246 on the fourth day, giving the home team a morale-boosting victory.
Chairman of Selectors, Courtney Browne said yesterday: “Oshane Thomas was with us in Barbados as cover and he has been added to the squad as the 14th player and will remain with the team as an additional fast bowler.
"We were all extremely happy with the great result in the first Test. We want to see them put in another solid performance in the second match in Antigua, where we won last year.”
The Windies arrived in Antigua yesterday and will continue their preparations today for the second Test. The third Test of the series will be played in St. Lucia from February 9. England holds the Wisden Trophy at the moment.
West Indies, written off by most prior to the series, produced an astonishing display in the opening Test at Kensington Oval to embarrass favourites England by 381 runs inside four days.
Part-time off-spinner Roston Chase then conjured up a record-breaking spell of eight for 60 to send the shell-shocked English tumbling to a heavy defeat, three-quarters of an hour after tea on the fourth day.
“We were all extremely happy with the great result in the first Test,” Browne said. “We want to see them put in another solid performance in the second match in Antigua, where we won last year.”
West Indies have drawn both their Tests against England at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, the last coming in a tense affair four years ago when Holder hit an unbeaten maiden hundred.
SQUAD – Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas, Jomel Warrican.