Joshua Bishop earns maiden Test call-up in WI's 15-man squad vs Pakistan
Synopsis
Left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop's 91 wickets across three domestic seasons have finally earned him a Test debut opportunity — and he arrives at a historic moment, with the Brian Lara Cricket Academy set to host its first-ever men's Test. West Indies and Pakistan, occupying the bottom two spots in the WTC table, meet in Trinidad with far more than pride at stake.
Key Takeaways
Joshua Bishop earns his maiden Test call-up after taking 91 wickets — the most by any bowler in the past three West Indies Championship seasons.
Roston Chase returns as captain after missing the New Zealand ODI series with a right index finger injury; Jomel Warrican is vice-captain.
Kirk McKenzie returns to the Test squad for the first time since 2024 , replacing the injured John Campbell (left hamstring).
The series opener at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy ( 25–29 July ) will be the first men's Test at the venue — the 13th ground in the region to host red-ball internationals.
West Indies are eighth and Pakistan are ninth in the WTC standings, making this a crucial series for both sides.
Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph was unavailable for selection due to personal reasons.
Left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop has received his maiden Test call-up as West Indies named a 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan, scheduled in Trinidad from 25 July to 6 August 2025. Bishop's selection rewards three seasons of standout domestic form that placed him above every other bowler in the regional circuit.
Bishop's Road to the Test Squad
Bishop, who represents Barbados Pride and the West Indies Academy, has claimed 91 wickets across the past three West Indies Championship seasons — the highest tally by any bowler in that period. The left-arm spinner's consistent haul in domestic red-ball cricket made his Test elevation a matter of when, not if, according to selectors.
Chase Returns as Captain, McKenzie Back in the Fold
Roston Chase will lead the side after missing the recently concluded ODI series against New Zealand due to an injury to his right index finger. Jomel Warrican has been named vice-captain. Selectors largely retained the core squad that secured a 1-0 Test series victory over Sri Lanka earlier this month.
Batter Kirk McKenzie returns to the Test setup for the first time since 2024, replacing opener John Campbell, who was ruled out with a left hamstring strain sustained during the New Zealand ODIs. McKenzie arrives in strong form, having scored 323 runs in six innings at an average of 64.6 in the West Indies Championship. Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph was unavailable for selection due to personal reasons.
A Historic Venue and High WTC Stakes
The series opener at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, running from 25 to 29 July, will make history as the first men's Test match ever staged at the venue — and the 13th ground in the region to host international red-ball cricket. The second Test shifts to the storied Queen's Park Oval from 2 to 6 August.
The context is notable in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings: West Indies currently occupy eighth place in the nine-team table, while Pakistan sit at the bottom. Both sides, therefore, enter the series with significant incentive to climb the standings ahead of the next WTC cycle.
Full Squad
Roston Chase (Captain), Jomel Warrican (Vice-Captain), Joshua Bishop, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Kirk McKenzie, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach, and Jayden Seales.
With two WTC bottom-half sides facing off on home soil, the Trinidad series offers West Indies a genuine opportunity to shift their red-ball trajectory heading into the back half of the cycle.
Point of View
Eighth in the WTC table, continue to cycle through debutants against a Pakistan side that is itself struggling at the bottom. This series is less a marquee contest and more a stress test for two programmes in transition. The Brian Lara Cricket Academy's historic debut as a Test venue adds pageantry, but the real story is whether either side can build the consistency that WTC qualification demands.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Joshua Bishop and why has he been called up?
Joshua Bishop is a left-arm spinner from Barbados who has been called up for his maiden Test appearance with West Indies. He earned the call-up by taking 91 wickets across three West Indies Championship seasons — the highest tally by any bowler in that period.
Who will captain West Indies in the Pakistan Test series?
Roston Chase will captain West Indies for the two-match series after recovering from a right index finger injury that ruled him out of the preceding ODI series against New Zealand. Jomel Warrican will serve as vice-captain.
Why is the Brian Lara Cricket Academy significant for this series?
The first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, scheduled from 25 to 29 July, will be the first men's Test match ever staged at the venue, making it the 13th ground in the West Indies region to host international red-ball cricket.
Why is Kirk McKenzie in the squad and who does he replace?
Kirk McKenzie returns to the West Indies Test squad for the first time since 2024, replacing opener John Campbell, who was ruled out with a left hamstring strain sustained during the recent ODI series against New Zealand. McKenzie scored 323 runs at an average of 64.6 in six domestic innings ahead of the selection.
Where do West Indies and Pakistan stand in the WTC table?
West Indies currently occupy eighth place and Pakistan are ninth — last — in the nine-team World Test Championship standings. Both sides enter the Trinidad series with strong motivation to improve their WTC positions.
