3 takeaways from the West Indies' squad for South Africa T20Is
A day after the West Indies and South Africa played out a thrilling second Test that saw the visitors win by 40 runs to take the series 1-0, the hosts announced their squad for the following T20Is. The two teams will face each other in three T20I games from August 23 to 27.
The West Indies have been in impressive form in the shortest format, winning four of their last five bilateral T20I series. However, they suffered a heartbreaking exit from the recent home T20 World Cup, losing a final-over thriller to South Africa and being eliminated on the doorsteps of the semi-final.
Head coach Daren Sammy hoped the staunch South African challenge would be the ideal start to their journey for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
"Facing a strong South Africa side is an excellent opportunity for our team to reset and refocus with our game plan. We have played them recently and had mixed results, so this should be an exciting and important series. I'm confident in the squad we've selected, and with eyes already on the next T20 World Cup in 2026, I know the guys will be keen to show their hunger for success," said Sammy.
The squad announced for the South Africa T20Is saw as many as three changes from the one in the T20 World Cup in June.
West Indies squad for SA T20Is: Rovman Powell (C), Roston Chase (VC), Alick Athanaze, Fabian Allen, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd.
On that note, we deep dive into some of those changes and other noticeable aspects in our three key takeaways from the West Indian squad for the three T20Is against the Proteas.
#1 Change in West Indian DNA - Where are the pace-bowling all-rounders?
When West Indies and T20s are used in the same sentence, the first connecting phrase that comes to mind is - 'Pace-bowling all-rounders'. Despite Chris Gayle's illustrious career in the shortest format, West Indies' success in T20Is, including winning two World Cups, was often built on boasting lower-order batters with the ability to bowl medium pace.
The likes of Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Daren Sammy, Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder, and even Kieron Pollard and Kyle Mayers formed the fulcrum of West Indian T20I sides of the past. Yet, their squad for the South African T20Is has only three players who can be considered all-rounders - Roston Chase, Fabian Allen, and Romario Shepherd.
The first two are predominantly batters who bowl spin and only Shepherd falls in the ilk of a big-hitting pace-bowling all-rounder. With the 2026 T20 World Cup set to be played on flatter and potentially turning tracks in India and Sri Lanka, are the West Indies moving away from their historical short-format DNA of packing the side with pace-bowling all-rounders? Only time will tell.
#2 The curious case of Andre Russell and Jason Holder
![Russell recently played in the 2024 Hundred competition [Credit: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/08/f99b5-17240591571528-1920.jpg)
Among the absentees from the West Indian squad, the two names that caught the eyeballs of most were all-rounders Andre Russell and Jason Holder. Both Men have been rested for recovery as confirmed by Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe during the squad announcement.
"Andre Russell requested a period of rest and recovery as well as Jason Holder who played five back-to-back five Tests against England and South Africa. During this period, they will work closely with the CWI science and medicine team," said Miles Bascombe (via Cricket West Indies).
The surprising element about Russell's resting was his featuring for the London Spirit for the entire 2024 Hundred campaign that ended on August 18. Hence, it is clear the star all-rounder isn't suffering from any major injury but will still miss time for the national side in the lone format he predominantly plays.
Holder's case is even more baffling if a series of events from the end of last year is considered. The former captain declined the West Indies' central contract before the Australia Tests earlier this year in a bid to play more T20s before the recent T20 World Cup.
Yet, an injury ruled him out of the tournament after which he returned for the recent Tests against England and South Africa. And, in West Indies' first T20I affair after the disappointing home World Cup, Holder has been rested, raising questions about the board's and his plans.
#3 Fabian Allen's return to the West Indies T20I squad
![Allen's all-round skills were missed by the West Indies in the 2024 T20 World Cup [Credit: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/08/d4762-17240590432936-1920.jpg)
Spin-bowling all-rounder Fabian Allen's return to the West Indian T20I squad created a buzz for the upcoming South Africa series. Renowned for his incredible finishing abilities and acrobatic fielding skills, the 29-year-old was ruled out of the home T20 World Cup with injury.
Allen hasn't lit up the international arena yet with the bat, averaging under 15 and a strike rate of 135.35. However, he has been more than serviceable with the ball, picking up 24 wickets at an average of 29.50 and an economy of under 7.50 in 37 outings.
His lower-order finishing capabilities will be particularly useful in the absence of Russell and Holder. The West Indies will hope Allen is fully fit and firing with his big-hitting and left-arm spin bowling as they build towards the 2026 T20 World Cup on Asian conditions.