Roston Chase returns from Test wilderness to lead West Indies

West Indies have made a surprising choice for their new Test captain, turning to Roston Chase—a player who has not featured in the format for over two years.

The 33-year-old all-rounder last played a Test in March 2023, against South Africa in Johannesburg. But despite this prolonged absence, Cricket West Indies (CWI) have entrusted him with leading the red-ball side into a new era, starting with next month's home series against Australia.

Chase will reach a personal milestone when he walks out for the toss in the first Test in Barbados on 25 June—it will be his 50th appearance in the format.

The appointment was confirmed by CWI on 16 May, who announced that both Chase and new vice-captain Jomel Warrican had been unanimously approved by the board's directors.

The choice of Warrican, a left-arm spinner whose place in the starting eleven is not always assured, adds to the sense of surprise surrounding the leadership shake-up. Both players were selected from a shortlist of six, which also included John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Tevin Imlach, and Justin Greaves.

The list itself reflects the leadership vacuum West Indies are currently facing in Test cricket. Of the six candidates, only wicketkeeper-batter Da Silva is a regular member of the side, with the others still fighting to cement their spots.

White-ball captain Shai Hope had already removed himself from consideration, stating that he did not wish to take on the added burden of Test leadership.

The captaincy became vacant earlier this year when Kraigg Brathwaite stepped down at the end of March, bringing an end to his 39-match tenure. Under his leadership, the side registered 10 wins and 22 losses. While his overall record was modest, Brathwaite was credited with steadying the ship during a turbulent period, guiding a young and inexperienced side through difficult times.

There were notable highs during his tenure, including a 2022 series win over England, a famous victory at the Gabba last year, and a drawn series against Pakistan in January—his final series in charge.

Warrican was instrumental in that Pakistan series, taking 19 wickets across two matches on spin-friendly tracks. By contrast, his previous 17 Tests had yielded just 54 wickets without a single five-for. That one standout performance appears to have earned him a leadership role.

While the appointments have drawn mixed reactions, CWI defended their decision by pointing to an "extensive and detailed evaluation process," which included psychometric testing. The board emphasised that it had assessed each candidate's leadership qualities, temperament, and overall suitability before making the final call.

CWI president Dr Kishore Shallow described the process as one of the board's most progressive and rigorous to date.

"This was one of the most comprehensive and forward-thinking selection processes we've undertaken," Shallow said. "The professionalism, objectivity, and strategic thinking that guided this decision have set a new standard for leadership selection in West Indies cricket."

Chase, who has previously captained the team once each in ODIs and T20Is, will now have the chance to lead the Test side into the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. The series against Australia, beginning on 25 June, marks the start of that journey. Just two weeks earlier, the Australians will be contesting the WTC final against South Africa at Lord's.