West Indies handed debuts to two players in the opener of the two-match Test series against India today (October 2). Notably, one is a veteran while the other’s a youngster – Khary Pierre and Johann Layne respectively.
Interestingly, while the 34-year-old Pierre was part of the initial squad, Layne was a last-minute addition, coming in as a replacement for the injured Shamar Joseph.
Talking about Layne, the 22-year-old is one of the promising and exciting prospects coming out of West Indies cricket and he is one player to keep an eye out for in the IND vs WI series.
Layne forms a part of the new generation of fast bowlers from the country, and looks to have the attributes to carry on the legacy of a nation that has produced some of the legendary pacers of the sport.
A gradguate of the West Indies academy, standing over six feet, the exciting fast bowling talent has been in the Test fray for sometime now. He was previously part of the three-Test home series squad against Australia in June-July. Layne has also been playing for the West Indies A side.
The chance to be in an academy environment has provided a continuous platform for development for the emerging star and has helped Layne level up his game since playing the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup in the Caribbean.
This translated into his performances as well and he enjoyed his best outing in the last domestic season with the West Indies Academy side, putting him in the reckoning for a possible spot in the senior squad.
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The Barbados cricketer’s best season headlined with a career best figures of 6 for 30 against the Windward Islands Volcanoes in the final round of the West Indies Championship. He finished with a total tally of 27 scalps in his six matches while spearheading the pace attack of the Academy, bagging two five wicket hauls and two four wicket hauls.
Overall, his numbers in FC cricket are very promising, with 66 wickets in 19 matches at an average of 22.28 including four fifers and three four-wicket hauls.
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