The two-match Test series between India and West Indies got underway on Thursday, October 2. The West Indies' performance has been far from ideal in the longest format of the game. They come into this series with the hosts as firm favourites.
With a young squad mixed with tinges of experience, the touring side arrive with a lot of anticipation. There are a list of youngsters and a few people who have never represented West Indies in the longest format prior to the ongoing series.
3 young West Indian players to watch out for in IND-WI Test series
3. Jediah Blades
Jason Holder was originally
going to be the replacement for the injured Alzarri Joseph. However, Holder citing a planned medical procedure for not turning up to India as Cricket West Indies went ahead with Jediah Blades instead.
Blades is uncapped player in the longest format. The left-arm seamer has played three ODIs and six T20Is so far. He was recently involved in his maiden Caribbean Premier League season with Guyana Amazon Warriors. Blades possesses an average in the mid-30s in the 13 First-Class matches he has played in which he has picked up 35 wickets.
2. Khary Pierre
Khary Pierre, aged 34, had not made his Test debut for West Indies up until the first Test of the ongoing series. Interestingly, the the spin-bowling all-rounder had made his T20I and ODI debut against India in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Pierre is of a similar mould to Ravindra Jadeja. His left-arm spin is quite flat and is a handy asset down the order when it comes with the bat. His FC record is quite impressive. Pierre averages 22.81 in the 35 FC matches he has played.
1. Johann Layne
The 22-year-old Johann Laynewas called up by the West Indies management as a replacement for Shamar Joseph as he sidelined with injury just ahead of the red-ball series. A promising seam-bowling all-rounder from Barbados, Layne made it to the national squad after being fast-tracked into the West Indies side after impressing for West Indies Academy in domestic cricket.
Like Pierre, he has been picked up in the XI for the first Test in Ahmedabad. Layne has been previously described as "rangy and intelligent" by former West Indian great Ian Bishop. The right-arm medium pacer has taken 66 scalps in FC cricket while averaging just 22.28.
