Carty, Athanaze handed leadership as Windies ‘A’ target England Lions
Key Points(5)
- Keacy Carty and Alick Athanaze will have an opportunity to arrest their recent struggles with the bat while leading West Indies ‘A’ in next month’s limited-overs series against England Lions.
- Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Sunday named the 29-year-old Carty captain of a 15-member squad for five One-Day matches, with Athanaze, 27, appointed to lead a 13-man team in a three-match Twenty20 series.
- The T20 matches are scheduled for November 1-3, followed by the ODI series from November 7-16, with both campaigns forming part of the regional governing body’s efforts to identify and prepare players for future international assignments.
- Carty under pressure, Athanaze gets another opportunity Carty’s appointment comes at a time when his promising ODI career has encountered a difficult spell.
- After establishing himself as a dependable performer in the 50-over format, the right-hander managed just 13 and nine in the opening two ODIs against India before being left out of the final match of the recently completed tour of the Asian subcontinent.
Keacy Carty and Alick Athanaze will have an opportunity to arrest their recent struggles with the bat while leading West Indies ‘A’ in next month’s limited-overs series against England Lions.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Sunday named the 29-year-old Carty captain of a 15-member squad for five One-Day matches, with Athanaze, 27, appointed to lead a 13-man team in a three-match Twenty20 series.
The T20 matches are scheduled for November 1-3, followed by the ODI series from November 7-16, with both campaigns forming part of the regional governing body’s efforts to identify and prepare players for future international assignments.
Carty under pressure, Athanaze gets another opportunity
Carty’s appointment comes at a time when his promising ODI career has encountered a difficult spell. After establishing himself as a dependable performer in the 50-over format, the right-hander managed just 13 and nine in the opening two ODIs against India before being left out of the final match of the recently completed tour of the Asian subcontinent.
His recent returns contrast with an overall ODI record of 39.91 runs per innings across 55 appearances for the West Indies, including four centuries and six half-centuries.
The England Lions series will therefore offer Carty an important opportunity to rediscover his scoring touch while demonstrating his readiness to lead the next tier of regional talent.
Athanaze, meanwhile, will be looking to use the T20 assignment to strengthen his case for a return to the senior West Indies setup.
The left-hander last represented the Men in Maroon during their T20 International series against Afghanistan in January. Despite having played 17 Tests and ODIs combined, along with 15 T20 Internationals, he has not appeared for the senior team in any format since 2025.
New faces and emerging pace talent
The T20 squad includes several players seeking to make an impression, among them hard-hitting opening batter Zachary Carter and fellow Barbadians Zishan Motara and fast bowler Jakeem Pollard.
Kamil Pooran, who made his senior debut during the recent tour of India, has also been selected, alongside wrist-spinner Vitel Lawes.
One of the more intriguing inclusions is Jamaican fast bowler Stewart Thompson, a relatively unfamiliar name who has earned recognition through the regional high-performance system.
Thompson was identified as a prospect by CWI bowling consultant Ottis Gibson during the first bowling camp held earlier this year. His selection provides an opportunity to test his potential in a competitive environment against England Lions.
The ODI squad also features the return of fast bowler Oshane Thomas, while wicketkeeper-batter Rivaldo Clarke and promising top-order batter Shaqkere Parris will be among those seeking to strengthen their international prospects.
Clarke arrives with leadership experience of his own, having captained the West Indies Academy to a 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka Emerging XI in a three-match 50-over series in June.
Test batter Mikyle Louis, who has appeared in 10 matches at that level, will be attached to the squad throughout the ODI campaign as part of his continued development in white-ball cricket within CWI’s high-performance program.
Qualifier takes priority as 2027 World Cup preparations intensify
The ODI assignment carries particular significance as the West Indies work toward the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier, scheduled to begin in February. CWI has identified that tournament as the immediate priority for its 50-over program, with the broader objective of securing a place at the 2027 World Cup.
Gibson will serve as head coach, assisted by batting coach Rohan Nurse and spin-bowling coach Nikita Miller.
CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe said the matches would provide an important assessment platform as selectors work to determine which players are best equipped for the demands of the Qualifier.
“The Qualifier in February is the most important assignment of our 50-over year, and we are treating it that way. Our aim is to win it and take that form to the World Cup in October.
“These One-Day matches are a big part of how we choose the players to do that, and the T20 matches start the work for 2028,” Bascombe said.
The series will also allow the coaching staff to establish clearer expectations for players competing for places in the senior setup.
“Ottis Gibson knows what international cricket demands. We’ve asked him to give every player clarity about their role, to tell us who is closest to stepping up, and what each player needs to work on to give them the best chance when they do,” Bascombe added.
West Indies ‘A’ T20 squad: Alick Athanaze (captain), Jewel Andrew, Zachary Carter, Shadrack Descarte, Keon Gaston, Karima Gore, Joshua James, Vitel Lawes, Zishan Motara, Jakeem Pollard, Kamil Pooran, Quentin Sampson, Stewart Thompson.
West Indies ‘A’ One-Day squad: Keacy Carty (captain), Kevlon Anderson, Jewel Andrew, Alick Athanaze, Jediah Blades, Rivaldo Clarke, Shadrack Descarte, Jyd Goolie, Vitel Lawes, Kirk McKenzie, Micah McKenzie, Shaqkere Parris, Jakeem Pollard, Shamar Springer, Oshane Thomas.
