West Indies unveil squad for first England Test

Uncapped seamer Anderson Phillip earns his maiden call-up, while there is a recall for opening batter John Campbell in the 13-strong group

Fast-bowler Anderson Phillip is the stand-out inclusion in the West Indies squad for the first Test against England.

The 25-year-old, whose only international outing came in an ODI against Sri Lanka last year has been rewarded for some decent domestic form.

Opening batter John Campbell is back in the fold after not featuring against Pakistan, South Africa or Sri Lanka.

Shannon Gabriel is missing with a hamstring injury and there is no place for Jeremy Solozano who has only played one competitive innings since being struck in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shai Hope and Jomel Warrican are also out.

Phillip has claimed 12 wickets at 14.25 across the opening two rounds of the West Indies Championship. Johnson, meanwhile, has scored 213 runs at 53.25 - top-scoring with 127 against Barbados.

In 15 Tests, the left-hander has hit 640 runs at 23.70 with a best of 68.

Chief selector Desmond Haynes said: “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.

^{Campbell is back in the fold after a spell out of the team (MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images)}

"He has been around the squad before in white-ball cricket, so he has some experience at the international level.”

Haynes added: “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.”

The first Test starts in Antigua on March 8-12, with subsequent games in Barbados (March 16-20) and Grenada (March 24-28).

England will warm up for the series with a four-day game against a Cricket West Indies President's XI at Coolidge Cricket Ground. That team will include Shane Dowrich, who captains the group, and Raymon Reifer.

West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood (vc), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales

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

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