Veteran fast bowler Kemar Roach has been recalled to the West Indies Test squad for their upcoming three-match series against New Zealand in December. The announcement of the 15-member squad comes as Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph remain sidelined through injuries, with 29-year-old Ojay Shields receiving his first Test call-up.Roach, whose last Test appearance came in Multan against Pakistan in January, brings crucial experience to an otherwise inexperienced pace attack. All-rounder Kavem Hodge has also made a return to the team since his last Test in Multan.The team has undergone intensive preparation, with several members completing a two-week high-performance training camp in the Caribbean. These players will join their teammates, currently in New Zealand for the ODI series, on November 20 ahead of a two-day warm-up match against the New Zealand XI in Christchurch.The series holds significance in the World Test Championship cycle, where West Indies currently occupy the last position among active teams after losing all five of their matches. New Zealand will begin their WTC campaign with this series.Cricket West Indies Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, said: “New Zealand has always been one of the most difficult locations for all touring teams, so the emphasis has been on focused preparation. The recent high performance camp here in Antigua was designed to replicate, as closely as possible, the conditions we expect to face, particularly the pace-friendly surfaces.Bascombe added: “This level of intentional preparation, combined with the advantage of several team members already in New Zealand for the white-ball leg of the tour, gaining valuable time to acclimatise, means that this group comes into this series as well prepared as any West Indies team to tour there in recent years.”Left-arm orthodox spinner Khary Pierre has been left out of the squad. The full squad includes Roston Chase as captain, Jomel Warrican as vice-captain, as well as Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales and Ojay Shields.
