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After being dropped against England late last year,
Shimron Hetmyer has not been included in either the West Indies ODI or T20I
squads for their series against Australia next month. After declining to play
in the Test tour in order to sign T20 franchise contracts, Jason Holder and
Kyle Mayers were added to the T20Is.
While hitters Brandon King and Sherfane Rutherford
have been permitted to play franchise cricket prior to returning for the T20Is,
Holder and Mayers are not included in the ODI team for the three matches that
precede the T20Is.
Hetmyer, who averages 32.23 in ODIs with a strike-rate
of 104.55, struggled for form against England with scores of 1 and 2 in the
first two T20Is which followed 32, 0 and 12 in the three ODIs.
“On the back of a series win against England, we
are expecting our ODI team to be very competitive in Australia,” lead
selector Desmond Haynes said. “We have some new inclusions, who have
impressed over a significant period and a couple of returning players, who we
think will have an impact.
“For the T20I series, this forms part of our
crucial preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup where we are hosts. We are
hoping to build on strong overall performances against India and England and to
keep improving as we approach the major tournament.”
Two players who could make their ODI debuts are
Guyanese wicketkeeper-batter Tevin Imlach (who is also in the Test team) and
Grenadian top-order batsman Teddy Bishop. Shai Hope is captain of the ODI team.
Legspinner Hayden Walsh Jr. gets recalled, as are all-arounders Justin Greaves
and Kavem Hodge.
The T20Is are scheduled for Hobart, Adelaide, and
Perth on February 9, 11, and 13, after the three ODIs in Melbourne, Sydney, and
Canberra on February 2, 4, and 6.
Australia’s ODI skipper will be Steven Smith, but
David Warner is anticipated to be included in the home team’s T20I squad, which
has not yet been announced.