Nearly two years after last donning the maroon to represent the Caribbean, Joshua Da Silva is on the verge of a return to the West Indies playing XI following his selection in the 15-man squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Antigua.
Da Silva played 33 consecutive Test matches before losing his place to Tevin Imlach ahead of the tour of Pakistan in January 2025. He subsequently missed series against Australia, India and New Zealand.
However, a strong return to form in regional cricket has put the Trinidadian wicketkeeper-batter back in contention. Across the last two West Indies Championship seasons, Da Silva amassed 996 runs, including a maiden double century this year, strengthening the case for his recall.
Now set for a return behind the stumps, the 28-year-old is understandably delighted to be back among his teammates and is relishing the opportunity to once again represent the people of the Caribbean.
“It’s been really good coming back into the team. I've been accepted and mingling with everyone like I’ve been here for the last couple of years, so it feels like I have not been away for very long”, Da Silva said. “I went back to first class cricket, did what I had to do, scored runs and got another opportunity, so I’m trying to make the most of it.”
West Indies 99 for 5 (Taylor 27*, Matthews 17; Dilhari 2-22) beat Sri Lanka 98 all out (Nilakshika 30, Dilhari 21; Matthews 3-15) by 5 wickets
The West Indies remain perfect at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup after holding on to beat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets and claim a third consecutive win in Bristol earlier today.
Following a near-perfect bowling display led by captain Hayley Matthews, the Caribbean side survived a scare to chase a low total, earning a victory that puts them tied on six points with Group 2 leaders England.
Their chase of 99 began shakily with Deandra Dottin having to pull out a dive to make her ground at the striker’s end on the fifth delivery of the first over.
The nervous start was amplified by a few crucial stops in the field from Sri Lanka, which culminated when Matthews was run out for a run-a-ball 17 via direct hit from the arm of Nilakshika Silva.
Sri Lanka claimed a second when Dottin’s struggle of an innings (16 from 14 balls) was ended on the final delivery of the powerplay with Windies 36 for two. It could have been worse two balls later had wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana not dropped Shemaine Campbelle on nought.
West Indies 153 for 6 (Taylor 47*, Campbelle 36; Fraser 2-34) beat Scotland 146 all out (Carter 59, Lister 33; Alleyne 3-11) by 7 runs
Stafanie Taylor’s heroics with the bat and Aaliyah Alleyne’s death bowling saw the West Indies squeeze past a spirited Scotland by seven runs at Headingley.
Taylor rescued the West Indies after they had slipped to 85 for five, with a 19-ball 47 to see her side post 153 for six.
Darcey Carter survived a cramp and being dropped twice to post 59, but it proved in vain as she was the first of three Alleyne wickets in the penultimate over as the West Indies held on to secure their second win of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The sixth-ranked West Indies were put into bat, and the match was evenly poised into the fifth over before Scotland asserted their dominance as Katherine Fraser took a stunning high catch and landed centimetres from the boundary to dismiss Qiana Joseph for 13.
Fraser then bowled the dangerous Hayley Matthews for 14 as the West Indies struggled to find impetus, with Scotland exemplary with the ball and in the field.
Shane Deitz has promised his West Indies side will be at their best as they take on Scotland in their second ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 match.
Both teams head to Headingley off the back of impressive wins, with the Windies defeating defending champions New Zealand in a thriller.
Scotland earned their first-ever World Cup win by beating Ireland, and Deitz knows their opponents will be aiming for a big impact after a tough six-wicket loss to the West Indies in the 2024 edition of the tournament.
“We had a pretty good win against them last time,” the Windies head coach said. “We bowled first, we restricted them a bit, and then Deandra (Dottin) went in and smacked a few and got us over the line with a good net run-rate.
“But we've played them in ODI cricket since then, and they've got a few new players, but I also think a lot of players are playing in the English game, and they will be a much harder test than they were last time.
“They had a great win, so they'll be flying high and full of confidence. They've got some good players all around, a good mix, they hit different areas.
The West Indies has recalled wicketkeeper-batter Joshua Da Silva for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua from June 25 to July 7.
Da Silva, who amassed 996 runs across the last two seasons of the West Indies Championship, returns to the Roston Chase-led side alongside Amir Jangoo, the second-highest scorer from this year’s Championship.
The series signals the start of the final stretch of the current World Test Championship cycle, which the Caribbean side will conclude this year with a home Test series against Pakistan and a two-match series tour of Bangladesh.
West Indies Test Squad vs Sri Lanka
Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales
