Marigot, Dominica – December 21, 2023
Cricket enthusiasts in Dominica are buzzing with excitement as two of their homegrown talents, Kavem Hodge and Alick Athanaze, earn well-deserved spots in the West Indies’ 15-member squad set to face Australia in a two-Test series as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). The series is scheduled to take place from January 17 to 29, 2024.
Both cricketers have been on the selectors’ radar, with Athanaze recently securing a contract and Hodge, though uncapped, making a significant impact in the CWI – A Team’s tour of South Africa. The Dominican public was also informed in June 2023 of both having received appointments as sports Ambassadors of the country. Dominican & regional cricketing enthusiasts have lauded their consistent good form, marking a proud moment for the cricketing talent emerging from the Caribbean.
Kavem Hodge: Born: February 21, 1993 Teams: West Indies A, Windward Islands, St Lucia Zouks, West Indies, and more Batting: Right-Handed Batsman (No. 5) Player Role: Batting Allrounder (Middle-order batsman; Part-time 3rd change bowler) Bowling: Slow left-arm orthodox (3rd change)
Alick Athanaze: Born: July 12, 1998 Teams: Windward Islands, Barbados Royals, West Indies, and more Batting: Left-Handed Batsman (No. 6) Player Role: Batsman (Middle-order batsman; Occasional 4th change bowler) Bowling: Right-arm off-break (4th change)
According to a Press release from Cricket West Indies, the team will be led by Captain Kraigg Brathwaite, with Alzarri Joseph named as the new Vice Captain. The squad, expected in Australia on December 30, will undergo a preparation camp in Adelaide from January 2 to 9, followed by a four-day First-Class warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI at the Karen Rolton Oval (KRO) in Adelaide from January 10 to 13.
The squad includes several uncapped players, including Zachary McCaskie, Tevin Imlach, Justin Greaves, Kevin Sinclair, Akeem Jordan, and Shamar Joseph. CWI Lead Selector, Dr. Desmond Haynes, expressed confidence in the team, emphasizing the talent unearthed through a robust red-ball program over the past year.
The Test series against Australia, part of the new 2023-2025 ICC WTC cycle, holds significance for West Indies, marking the first of three away series. After drawing one Test match and losing one against India in August, the Caribbean team aims for a strong showing Down Under.
Unfortunately, Jayden Seales is unavailable due to a shoulder injury, while Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers have expressed a preference to explore T20 franchise opportunities in January.
The highly anticipated series for the Frank Worrell Trophy will feature a red-ball fixture at the Adelaide Oval from January 17 to 21, followed by a pink-ball Day/Night contest at the Gabba in Brisbane from January 25 to 29.
After the Test series, West Indies will face Australia in three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals. Nate Media invites sports enthusiasts to stay tuned for extensive coverage of this exciting cricketing event.
