The West Indies cricket team has introduced fresh talent to its 15-member Test squad for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand, commencing next month. Ojay Shields, a promising Jamaican fast bowler, has received his maiden call-up, stepping in to fill the void left by injured frontline pacers Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph. Shields, who has claimed 34 wickets in 16 first-class matches, will join seasoned campaigner Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales to form a relatively inexperienced pace attack. Additionally, middle-order batsman Kavem Hodge has been recalled to the squad, bringing his experience of 11 Tests and 556 runs to the table. The team, which assembled in New Zealand on November 20, will benefit from a two-day warm-up match against a New Zealand XI in Lincoln, Christchurch, to acclimatize to local conditions. Miles Bascombe, CWI’s Director of Cricket, emphasized the meticulous preparation undertaken for this challenging tour, including a high-performance camp in Antigua designed to simulate New Zealand’s pace-friendly pitches. The series, part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship, marks the West Indies’ final fixture for 2025. The squad, led by Roston Chase, is supported by a comprehensive team management unit, including head coach Daren Sammy and a host of specialized coaches and support staff. The tour schedule includes warm-up matches and three Tests across Christchurch, Wellington, and Mount Maunganui, promising an exciting contest between the two cricketing nations.