Da Silva replaces Dowrich in West Indies squad
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Roach and Dowrich returned to the Caribbean ahead of the second Test and 22-year-old wicket-keeper batsman, Joshua da Silva has been added to the squad. Roach lost his father last week while Dowrich is going back due to personal reasons.
Dowrich had suffered a hand injury during the first Test and did not bat in either innings in the first Test that the visitors lost by an innings and 134 runs. Roach had claimed 3/114 at Seddon Park and has been a key component of the Windies bowling attack in Tests.
JUST IN: Kemar Roach and Shane Dowrich will miss the second #NZvWI Test, with both players flying home.
— ICC (@ICC) December 7, 2020
🤕 Shimron Hetmyer (under concussion protocols) and Keemo Paul (groin injury) may also be unavailable.
Joshua Da Silva has been added to the squad as cover 🌴 pic.twitter.com/KsJVq1OXlt
With Roach out, Chemar Holder, the uncapped pacer, could be in line for a debut. Keemo Paul, who also adds value with the bat, is another option. Da Silva is almost certain to make a debut with Dowrich absent and no other wicket-keeper in the squad.
The top-order batsman had impressed in England earlier this year in an intra-squad warm-up game, making 133* and 56* in Manchester. He has only had 17 first-class appearances but has a hundred and five fifties already. Da Silva played in the recent four-day match between New Zealand A and West Indies A at Mount Maunganui but didn’t make a major impression, scoring 2 and 15* in the two innings.
Travel day from Hamilton to Wellington to prepare for the next Gillette Test at the @BasinReserve. #NZvWI pic.twitter.com/F0WH9n4A45
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 7, 2020
Meanwhile, New Zealand have great news with regular Test wicket-keeper, BJ Watling set to return for the second Test after missing the first with a hamstring injury.
"I’ve been through a few fitness tests and did a bit of training last week during the test match and it seems to have pulled up pretty good – so we’ll see how the next few days go," BJ Watling said ahead of the Test.
Watling would still need to pass fitness tests on Wednesday to play the Test match. If Watling returns, Will Young could step aside with Tom Blundell moving back up the order.
"Pretty much full bat, full wicket-keeping, sprinting – just the stuff that I’ll need to do in a game. It was pretty much a 95 per cent run yesterday and no dramas, so it felt pretty good.”