He last played a Test match in 2021.
West Indies are set to host the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 runners-up, Australia, for a three-match Test series, starting on June 25 in Barbados. Shai Hope, who represented the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, has made a shocking return to the West Indies playing XI in the first Test. He has replaced wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach, who recently made his Test debut during the Pakistan tour in January 2025.
NAM
279/9
ASM
10/0
WI
–
AUS
–
SL
–
BAN
202/7
PRP
48/4
ALW
49/1
Alembic Warriors beat Pruthvi Panthers by 9 wickets
PRP
–
DID
49/4
Match abandoned due to rain
DID
–
ALW
–
APS
–
ASA
–
HDS
87/8
SRTS
69/5
SOSM
–
SESS
–
SRTS
–
RAMW
–
LSKT
–
SESS
–
AHWS
–
MUKS
–
SSS-W
82/3
RMW-W
110/8
Servotech Siliguri Strikers Womens beat Rashmi Medinipur Wizards Womens by 7 wickets (VJD method)
SSM-W
155/6
AHW-W
154/5
Sobisco Smashers Malda Womens won by 4 wickets
SRT-W
–
HD-W
–
LSKT-W
35/6
MK-W
58/3
Murshidabad Kueens Womens beat Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers Womens by 23 runs
MK-W
–
SSS-W
–
SRT-W
–
LSKT-W
–
HD-W
–
AHW-W
–
HD-W
–
AHW-W
–
GHM
49/3
OCC
48/1
Greater Helsinki Markhors beat Oulu CC by 7 wickets
GHM
199/1
KCCL
135/6
Greater Helsinki Markhors beat KCC Lions by 64 runs
OCC
111/6
FCCG
22/3
KCCL
–
VTV
–
VTV
–
FCCG
–
KCCL
–
FCCG
–
KCCL
–
OCC
–
VTV
–
OCC
–
FCCG
–
GHM
–
GHM
–
VTV
–
ECB-XI
194/8
IND-W
29/0
NWW
143/8
LLG
36/0
MUR
–
NK
–
NWW
–
MUR
–
NK
–
LLG
–
GUC
–
LEX
–
TGS
–
THUB
–
YSS
–
THN
–
TSKS
196/8
LAKR
144/7
Texas Super Kings won by 52 runs
SOR
–
SFU
–
LAKR
–
WAF
–
ENGA-W
–
NZA-W
–
PYXI
107/8
YUC
108/4
Yuksom Capitals won by 6 wickets
RNB
202/3
AVECC
105/10
IRSCC
–
CAO
–
BES
–
ALSC
–
WIA
–
SLEM
–
CBG
–
BMB
–
IYH
–
WTS
–
BMB
–
AMW
–
PTS
–
CBG
–
TGC
–
MPS
–
NRK
–
DID
–
Apart from Hope entering the squad in place of Imlach, there have been four more changes in the West Indies playing XI for the first Test against Australia. Roston Chase will take over the captaincy charges once again after Kraigg Brathwaite’s resignation earlier this year. Notably, Chase has not featured in a red-ball match since March 2023.
Opener Brandon King is set to make his debut in the format at No.4. After a stellar run in white-ball cricket, Keacy Carty has also made a comeback in the Test squad. Pacer Shamar Joseph, who missed the series against Pakistan due to injury rehabilitation, has been named in the playing XI. Southpaw John Campbell has also made a return to the side after nearly three years.
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The side has continued a poor form in the recent red-ball matches. The last time they won a home series was against Bangladesh in 2022 (2-0). Since then, the team has lost two consecutive Test series at home against India and South Africa, respectively (0-1). The latest Test series between Bangladesh and the West Indies in 2024 ended in a draw.
Notably, Australia are visiting the West Indies for a two-match Test series after a decade. In June 2015, Michael Clarke and Co. won comprehensively by nine wickets and 277 runs, respectively, as they clean-swept the Windies at their home to take the series by 2-0.
Once again, the Aussies would start the series as favourites. But Chase and Co. would also look to put up a tough fight to start the new WTC cycle for 2025-27 on a high. The match will be followed by two other fixtures on July 3 and July 13, in Grenada and Jamaica, respectively.
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