Rovman Powell and Kraigg Brathwaite Leaves WI Captaincies
West Indies set to name new Test skipper before visit of Australia
Rovman Powell, the Jamaica all rounder, has been removed from his T20 captaincy and replaced by Barbados wicketkeeper Shai Hope.
The CWI board revealed that this decision was taken following advice from head coach Daren Sammy.
Powell had only been in charge since 2023, and oversaw impressive T20I home series triumphs over England, India and South Africa. Yet Bangladesh brushed the Windies aside for a 3-0 success last December.
Hope, who is the ODI skipper, will take on the extra responsibility that will begin with half-a-dozen T20I contests in England and Ireland in June.
There’s been another change for the Windies. Kraigg Brathwaite, an opening batsman, has resigned as Test captain with his successor to be named within the month.
The 32-year-old had indicated in January, ahead of the Windies tour to Pakistan, that he could step down to concentrate on his batting.
The tourists drew the two-Test series 1-1 with a 120-run 2nd Test victory handing Braithwaite only his tenth success in 39 matches.
Braithwaite, who is two Test matches short of a century, was a popular captain on and off the pitch. Players liked him, fans supported him and he was a media darling.
He was handed the reins in March 2021, when he was called upon to replace his fellow Bajan Jason Holder. Braithwaite was promoted shortly after his successful spell as stand-in skipper, having steered a Windies squad full of fringe players to a shock 2-0 series win over Bangladesh.
Although the Windies lie a disappointing eighth in the current World Test Championship standings, only one place above rock-bottom Pakistan thanks to the squared series, there were memorable moments of Braithwaite’s reign.
His remarkable 1-0 series triumph over England in 2022, to clinch the Richards-Botham Trophy, marked his peak at the helm.
Their 10-wicket 3rd Test win, with Braithwaite unbeaten at the crease, was completed in four days inside the Grenada National Cricket Stadium.
This reversal subjected English cricket to one of their worst lows, while in contrast Braithwaite led his squad around the ground for a deserved lap of honour.
Last year’s feat for Braithwaite was almost as impressive, with another positive result in four days after Guyanese fast bowler Shamar Joseph destroyed Australia with a second innings seven-wicket haul.
The Windies edged to an eight-run victory in Brisbane to earn their first Test triumph in Australia this century, having last won Down Under in 1997.
Jamaica’s iconic Courtney Walsh was captain when the Caribbean side stormed to a 10-wicket success inside the Adelaide Oval, helped by an unbeaten century from the legendary Brian Lara.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) will be seeking a new leader to fill Braithwaite’s shoes for the visit of Australia.
Kensington Oval in Barbados will play host for the 1st Test (25-29 June), the 2nd Test is scheduled for Grenada National Cricket Stadium (3-7 July) with Jamaica’s Sabina Park the finale for tour with the 3rd Test (13-16 July).
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