West Indies have suffered a significant blow on the eve of their Test series in India, with pace spearhead Alzarri Joseph ruled out due to a recurrence of a back injury.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed that scans revealed “a degeneration of the previously resolved lower back injury”, forcing the 27-year-old fast bowler out of the two-match series. The news comes as a major setback for the Caribbean side, which had been counting on Joseph’s pace and hostility in subcontinental conditions.
Blades called up as cover
To fill the void, uncapped fast bowler Jediah Blades has been summoned to the Test squad. The 22-year-old, currently in Sharjah with the T20I team taking on Nepal, will fly to India following the conclusion of that series.
Blades, who made his ODI debut late last year, has featured in seven matches across limited-overs formats and now finds himself on the cusp of a potential red-ball breakthrough. His elevation marks another rapid step in his progression through the West Indies ranks.
Holder declines recall
CWI also revealed that veteran allrounder Jason Holder had been approached as a possible replacement but declined the call-up due to a scheduled medical procedure.
That decision leaves the West Indies with an inexperienced pace unit to support captain Roston Chase as they prepare for the stern test of Indian batting conditions.
Series schedule
The first Test is set to begin on October 2 in Ahmedabad, followed by the second and final encounter starting October 10 in Delhi.
For the West Indies, the challenge has grown steeper—Joseph’s absence robs them of both strike power and experience at a time when resilience will be paramount.
