Veteran Barbadian fast bowler Kemar Roach has been reinstated into the West Indies squad for their upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, scheduled from December 1 to 21. The 15-member team, announced by Cricket West Indies (CWI) on November 20, also includes uncapped Jamaican pacer Ojay Shields, who has 34 wickets from 16 First-Class matches. The squad faces challenges with the absence of injured fast bowlers Alzarri and Shamar Joseph, who are sidelined for the remainder of the year due to injuries sustained earlier in 2025. Roach, 37, with 284 wickets in 85 Tests, last played for the Windies in January during their tour of Pakistan. The team also welcomes back middle-order batsman Kavem Hodge, 32, who returns based on his previous success against pace bowling. Left-arm spinner Khary Pierre has been omitted, as spin is not expected to play a significant role in the series. The squad features vice-captain Jomel Warrican as the lone specialist spinner, with skipper Roston Chase providing additional off-spin options. Other notable players include white-ball captain Shai Hope, Justin Greaves, and opening batsmen John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul. CWI’s director of cricket, Miles Bascombe, emphasized the team’s rigorous preparation to tackle New Zealand’s challenging conditions, including a high-performance camp in Antigua designed to simulate pace-friendly surfaces. The West Indies are currently trailing 2-0 in the One-day International series against New Zealand, with the final match set for November 21. The team will play a two-day warm-up match against a New Zealand XI in Christchurch from November 25-26 before the first Test begins on December 1.