Cricket West Indies has surprised many with their choices for the new Test captain and vice-captain.
Roston Chase hasn’t played a Test since March 2023 against South Africa in Johannesburg. Yet, if he stays injury-free, this all-rounder is set to return for West Indies’ upcoming Test series—and now he has been named the team’s captain!
Yes, Cricket West Indies has handed the captaincy to a player who has been out of Test cricket for over two years. Chase will lead the Caribbean side starting next month in the Test series against Australia.
When Chase takes the field for the toss in the first Test in Barbados, he will also mark a personal milestone—his 50th Test match at the age of 33.
The surprise doesn’t end there. The new vice-captain is also unexpected. West Indies have chosen left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, a player whose place in the playing XI is often uncertain, for this key role.
On Friday, Cricket West Indies announced on social media that the board’s directors unanimously appointed the new captain and vice-captain.
The decision came from a shortlist of six players, which included John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Tevin Imlach, and Justin Greaves.
This list highlights West Indies cricket’s ongoing leadership struggles. Except for wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva, the rest are still fighting to secure their spot in the team.
Meanwhile, ODI and T20 captain Shai Hope himself requested not to be considered for the Test leadership role, as he does not want the added responsibility.
The need to appoint a new Test captain arose after Craig Brathwaite stepped down at the end of March. Under Brathwaite’s captaincy, West Indies played 39 Tests, winning 10 and losing 22.
Brathwaite took charge during a very challenging period, tasked with nurturing a young and inexperienced team. While his overall record wasn’t outstanding, his tenure included some memorable wins, such as the 2022 series victory over England, a remarkable win at the Gabba during last year’s Australia tour, and a drawn series against Pakistan in January.
In that Pakistan series, Warrican took advantage of turning wickets, claiming 19 wickets in two Tests. Prior to that, in 17 Tests, he had only 54 wickets and had never taken a five-wicket haul in an innings. That stellar performance in Pakistan earned him this big leadership responsibility.
Although the appointments of Chase and Warrican surprised many, Cricket West Indies explained that the decisions followed a thorough evaluation process—including ‘psychometric’ testing—to assess leadership style, behavior, and suitability for these roles.
Dr. Kishore Shallow, president of Cricket West Indies, reflected this in his statement:
“This was one of the most comprehensive and forward-thinking selection processes we have undertaken. I’m deeply impressed by the professionalism, objectivity, and strategic thinking that guided the final decisions. It has set a new standard for leadership appointments in West Indies cricket.”
Before this, Chase has captained West Indies in one ODI and one T20 match.
The upcoming three-match Test series against Australia begins on June 25. This series will mark the start of a new ICC World Test Championship cycle for both teams. Just two weeks before this series, Australia will face South Africa at Lord’s in the final of the current cycle.
