Team India to take on 6 Test players in warm-up match against WICB President's XI

Jermaine Blackwood is currently one of the most promising young batsmen in West Indies

Former national U-19 skipper and Test specialist Leon Johnson has been chosen to lead the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President’s XI for the first practice cricket match against the visiting Indian side in St Kitts.

The squad also contains five other members who have represented West Indies in Tests. Jermaine Blackwood, Rajendra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope and Jomel Warrican will join Johnson in a bid to stake a claim for the subsequent 4-match series.

Erstwhile first-class cricketer from Guyana, Rayon Griffith will manage the team while Barbados veteran Henderson Springer takes care of the coaching responsibilities. However, the team was announced only for the first warm-up fixture which is scheduled at Warner’s Park from July 9 to 10.

The Caribbean selectors might have opted for a wait and observe approach before unveiling the team for the second practice game which will instead be a three-day affair at the same venue from July 14 to 16.

Johnson has played 4 Tests and scored 275 runs at an average of 39.28 with his previous appearance coming against South Africa in January 2015. Meanwhile, Blackwood is a bit more experienced with a century as well as six fifties in 15 matches.

Warrican is a reputed spinner in the Caribbean circuit due to his stellar domestic record of 105 wickets from 24 games at an average of 20.02 whereas Dowrich debuted in West Indies’ previous home series.

However, the opening duo of Chandrika and Hope have not had a good start to their international careers. They would be hoping to catch the selection committee’s attention before the first Test against India begins on July 21 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

WICB President’s XI Full Squad:

Leon Johnson (C), Jermaine Blackwood, Rajendra Chandrika, Roston Chase, Jason Dawes, Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope, Damion Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Marquino Mindley, Vishaul Singh, Jomel Warrican