West Indies include Phillip, Campbell for first England Test

Uncapped Trinidad & Tobago fast bowler Anderson Phillip, opener John Campbell and Shamarh Brooks have been included in West Indies' squad for the Test series opener against England, in Antigua. The 13-member squad however does not feature Roston Chase, Shai Hope and Rahkeem Cornwall while injured Shannon Gabriel wasn't available for selection.

SQUAD FOR 1ST TEST: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Jermaine Blackwood (Vice Captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales

Anderson, 25, has played just the one ODI for WI, back in March 2021 against Sri Lanka and has lately been in impressive nick in the domestic first-class competition, picking 12 wickets at an average of 14.25 per wicket, with best figures of 5-82 against Jamaica Scorpions.

Campbell, who has played 15 Tests, also makes it back on the basis of rich form in the domestic circuit. The 28-year-old from Jamaica, who missed the home series against South Africa and Pakistan, and the subsequent tour of Sri Lanka, has recently scored 213 runs at an average of 53.25 in the current West Indies Championship, including 127 against Barbados Pride.

Shamarh Brooks comes in too, having last played a Test in December 2020. He will likely be a candidate for No.4, a position that the West Indies have found a little difficult to fill in recent times.

Rahkeem, who doesn't feature in the squad, managed to play only one Test in spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka but only had two wickets to show at Galle. Left-arm orthodox Jomel Warrican misses out too. Contrastingly, Veerasammy Permaul, the left-arm spinner who picked a five-wicket haul at Galle, retains his place.

"Anderson Phillip bowled extremely well and was very impressive in the first two rounds of the West Indies Championship and we decided to give him an opportunity in the Test squad to face England. He has been around the squad before in white ball cricket, so he has some experience at the international level," Lead Selector Desmond Haynes said.

"I expect us to be very competitive against England. This should be a very exciting series, with a lot of players who are out to make their mark. We have a squad that has some experienced players, as well as some exciting young players and we expect them to equip themselves well and do the job," Haynes added.

Wicketkeeper batsman Shane Dowrich will lead the CWI President's XI against England in the four-day warm-up at the Coolidge Cricket Ground from March 1-4. The first Test will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium from March 8-12.

CWI PRESIDENT'S XI SQUAD: Shane Dowrich (C), Raymon Reifer (VC), Colin Archibald, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Bryan Charles, Shermon Lewis, Preston McSween, Shayne Moseley, Jeremy Solozano, Shamar Springer, Devon Thomas