CWI Media Release: Carlos Brathwaite, Sheldon Cottrell and John Campbell have been called up to the West Indies squad for the first two ODIs against England. The changes to the 14-man squad became necessary due to injuries to opener Evin Lewis, as well as allrounders Keemo Paul and Rovman Powell.

The matches will be played at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Wednesday, February 20 and Friday, February 22. First ball daily is 11am (10am Jamaica Time/3pm GMT).

This is a maiden call-up for Campbell in white-ball cricket. The 25-year-old left-handed opener who also bowls off-spin, made his Test debut in the recent Wisden Trophy Series. He scored 176 runs (average 35.2) in the three matches.

Brathwaite, the imposing six-footer, brings a wealth of experience to the squad – having played three Tests, 28 ODIs and 35 T20 Internationals so far in his career. Cottrell, the strongly-built left-arm speedster, has appeared in two Tests, six ODIs and 10 T20 Internationals. He was a member of the squad to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in New Zealand and Australia.

Chairman of Selectors, Courtney Browne outlined the reasons for the changes and said the upcoming five-match series is a vital part of the preparations for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup – to be played in England and Wales from May 31 to July 15.

“With our squad suffering from a few players with injuries even before a ball is bowled, an opportunity presents itself for other players to make a claim for ICC Cricket World Cup spots. After a good showing as an opener in the Test matches, John Campbell – a fearless and attacking opening batter – will replace Evin Lewis who had to be withdrawn from the squad with a groin injury,” Browne said.

“Carlos Brathwaite who last played in the ICC World Cup qualifiers and who was a replacement in the last ODI series in Bangladesh will also join the squad along with Sheldon Cottrell who last played against Bangladesh last year in the Caribbean. They will replace Rovman Powell and Keemo Paul who are also both sidelined with injuries. The panel take this opportunity to wish the injured players a speedy recovery and to wish the team success in the upcoming ODIs.”

FULL SQUAD (with jersey numbers)

Jason Holder (Captain) – 8, Fabian Allen 97, Devendra Bishoo – 70

Carlos Brathwaite – 26, Darren Bravo – 46, John Campbell – 32

Sheldon Cottrell – 19, Chris Gayle – 45, Shimron Hetmyer – 2

Shai Hope – 4, Ashley Nurse – 5, Nicholas Pooran – 29

Kemar Roach – 24, Oshane Thomas – 4

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Still no Ambris?

Hope and Thomas wearing the same jersey number #4

In reply to TyTy35

Ambris selected to play Regional 4 Day..

still no lendi simmions

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

What about Obed McCoy? How come he hasn't been considered

In reply to timeless99

Simmons over John for me. I would not select Carlos either.

The selectors are really mistreating Cornwall. There is no way Nurse, Bishoo, Allen or Braithwaite should be in any team ahead of Cornwall. Cornwall even has a better List A batting average than John Campbell. The treatment of this young man is inexcusable.

In reply to TWX

Especially in a team with so many lefthanders. Cornwall could serve a nice all-rounder role in this team giving it some balance.

I'm a Bajan but I can't see what Carlos has done to merit a play over McCoy,Cornwall even Ambris.

It is not stats. Therefore you have to look at intangibles. His prowess as a leader enabling CCC to win the Super 50 tournament and his international exposure and knowledge along with the fact the selectors are feeling he has matured to be now an effective ODI allrounder.

A potential ODI superstar and an alternative to Holder as ODI that to me is what they are seeing in Carlos

John Campbell is good enough to score a hundred but I sure would prefer to see them help develop him as the test opener. To have play ODI so soon after he was capped for test is really going to have the young man confused between aggression and discipline. It would have been better to bring in either Ambris, Powell, Walton or Chandrapaul Hemraj. Very disappointing to see Bishoo instead of Cornwall. They treating Cornwall very badly, just as they treated Ridley Jacobs in the 90's. Cornwell keeps doing well in our domestic competition and when selected on the West Indies A team he out performs everyone but somehow they keep discriminating against the young man. What a shame!!

I think "Slipfeeler" picked that team!