Hetmyer earns West Indies recall for England ODI series

Shimron Hetmyer has been recalled to the West Indies squad ahead of their one-day series against England.

The big-hitting left-hander was dropped after three modest showings during England's last visit at the back end of last year as his run without an ODI fifty stretched to a dozen innings.

But he replaces Alick Athanaze in the only change from the group that lost 2-1 in Sri Lanka, with the Windies naming a 15-strong squad less than 48 hours before the first match in Antigua.

While this is England's penultimate ODI series ahead of the Champions Trophy, there is little on the line for West Indies as they have not qualified for the eight-team tournament set to be held in Pakistan in February and March next year.

That was a knock-on consequence of failing to reach last year's 50-over World Cup, with trying to qualify for the 2027 edition their next staging post.

"With our sights set on qualifying for the World Cup in 2027, we've selected a balanced squad that will no doubt push and compete with one of the best teams in the world," West Indies coach Darren Sammy said.

"Playing against England always provides a new challenge and reignites a rivalry that the players and the people of the Caribbean are eager for."

The Windies beat England in both ODI and T20 series last year. England's last series triumph in the Caribbean in any format was a 3-0 T20 win in March 2019.

"This rivalry goes back for decades, and after defeating them last year at home for the first time in a long time in an ODI series, we're ready to face the challenge of a strong England squad again," Sammy added.

"Somehow, we West Indies always find a way to raise our game when we face England."

WEST INDIES SQUAD:

Shai Hope (capt), Jewel Andrew, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.