ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Seasoned fast bowler Kemar Roach has expectedly been named in a West Indies 15-member squad to face New Zealand in a three-match Test series beginning next month.

The 37-year-old’s selection does not come as a surprise having been invited by Cricket West Indies (CWI) to take part in a two-week High-Performance preparation camp earlier this month.

Roach, the fifth-highest wicket taker for the West Indies in Tests (285), along with Jayden Seales, will lead the Windies’ pace attack missing the likes of speedsters Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, who have been sidelined for the rest of the year with injuries.

Meanwhile, Shields, who was also part of the camp, is in line to make his debut in a squad depleted of pacers.

The 29-year-old Jamaican fast bowler has played 16 first-class matches and taken 34 wickets.

Middle-order batsman Kavem Hodge has also been recalled to the side. Hodge, who last featured in a Test match for the Windies against Pakistan in early January, has played 11 Tests and scored 556 runs at an average of 25.27.

Those travelling from the Caribbean joined the rest of the squad in New Zealand on November 20, giving them considerable time to become acclimatised and take part in a two-day warm-up match against a New Zealand XI in Lincoln, Christchurch ahead of the Test series.

CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, said all efforts had been made to ensure the squad was one of the best-prepared groups for an away tour to New Zealand.

“New Zealand has traditionally been one of the toughest places for any touring side, which is why strong emphasis has been placed on targeted preparation.

“The recent high-performance camp here in Antigua was designed to replicate, as closely as possible, the conditions we expect to face, particularly the pace-friendly surfaces,” Bascombe said.

“That level of intentional preparation, combined with the advantage of several squad members already in New Zealand for the white-ball portion of the tour gaining valuable time to acclimate, means this group goes into this series as well-prepared as any West Indies squad to tour there in recent years.”

The series forms part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship and will be the West Indies’ final fixture for 2025.

West Indies Test Squad:

Roston Chase (captain)

Jomel Warrican

Alick Athanaze

John Campbell

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Justin Greaves

Kavem Hodge

Shai Hope

Tevin Imlach

Brandon King

Johann Layne

Anderson Phillip

Kemar Roach

Jayden Seales

Ojay Shields