West Indies Gear Up for T20 Tour of New Zealand Amid Squad Changes
West Indies are heading into their five-match T20 series against New Zealand with a few notable changes to their squad, and there’s plenty to unpack before the first ball is bowled. One of the biggest talking points is the omission of ace left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie. Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced that Motie, 30, has been left out of the 15-man squad due to a dip in form, attributed mainly to a technical issue with his bowling action. While this might sound like a setback, it’s not the end of the road for Motie. He is expected to work with specialists through the Royal Sports Group, the owners of South African franchise Paarl Royals, ahead of the SA20 tournament later this year. The move is seen as a crucial step in getting him back to peak form, keeping him firmly in West Indies’ plans for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Motie has been a significant figure in the Windies T20 setup since his debut in 2021, having played 40 T20 matches and claiming 36 wickets at an economy of 7.96. He also has experience across all formats, with 35 Test wickets and 42 in ODIs. However, recent outings have been less than ideal. In the T20 series against Bangladesh, he played just one game, conceding 11 runs in a single over, while in the preceding ODI series, he took four wickets at an economy of 5.79, though West Indies lost the series 2-1.
With Motie sidelined, the spin department will now rely on the Trinidadian duo of Akeal Hosein and Khary Pierre. The pace attack is being bolstered by allrounders Matthew Forde and Shamar Springer, joining the likes of Jayden Seales and Romario Shepherd, the latter having impressed in the recent Bangladesh series with a Player of the Series performance, including a hat-trick and multiple key wickets.
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West Indies’ batting lineup remains led by wicket-keeper Shai Hope, with experienced campaigners like Roston Chase, Jason Holder, and Rovman Powell providing depth. The opening pair of Alick Athanaze and Brandon King will carry the top-order duties, while middle-order batsman Sherfane Rutherford will look to regain form after a series of low scores in Bangladesh.
Another interesting addition to the touring setup is former New Zealand opener Martin Guptill, who has been brought in to provide local knowledge for the Auckland matches. His insights will be particularly valuable for the first two T20s at Eden Park, with subsequent games scheduled in Nelson and Dunedin.
Off the field, the squad will benefit from the expertise of clinical psychologist Krisnan Hurdle, joining coach Daren Sammy’s setup as a mental skills and performance coach. CWI’s director of cricket Miles Bascombe emphasized that this move underscores the importance of mental composure at the elite level, ensuring players are equipped to handle pressure while maintaining focus.
As West Indies prepare to face New Zealand in what promises to be an exciting T20 series, all eyes will be on how the reshuffled squad adapts to the conditions and whether key players can step up in the absence of Motie. The series kicks off at Eden Park in Auckland, with the first two matches set for November 5 and 6, followed by games in Nelson and the final clash in Dunedin on November 12.
The West Indies squad for the New Zealand T20 series includes: Shai Hope (captain), Alick Athanaze, Ackeem Auguste, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Amir Jangoo, Brandon King, Khary Pierre, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, and Shamar Springer.
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