Keacy Carty to make WI Test debut vs South Africa, Shamar out

St Maarten middle-order batsman Keacy Carty will make his West Indies Test debut when the regional team plays South Africa in the opening match of their two-Test-match series from August 7 at the Queen's Park Oval in St Clair, Trinidad.

The 27-year-old Carty, a former West Indies Under-19 World Cup winner, has played 22 One-day International matches, boasting an average of 34.

On August 6 at the St Clair venue, West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite told reporters Carty will be making his debut in the first Test. Brathwaite said Carty is expected to bat in the number three position and will replace Jamaica's Kirk McKenzie, who made just 33 runs in his six innings in the West Indies' 3-0 Test series loss away to England last month.

Brathwaite expects Carty to bring his ODI and First-Class experience to the fore in the Test arena.

Carty has played 48 First-Class matches, amassing 2,360 runs at an average of 28.09. He has three First-Class centuries to his name with a top score of 127.

Carty finished the 2024 regional First-Class campaign as the fifth-leading run-scorer, with 496 runs.

The Windies captain also confirmed his playing XI for the first Test, with veteran fast bowler Kemar Roach returning to the team alongside left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican. Roach was initially included for the England tour, but was replaced by Jeremiah Louis in the build-up to the first Test.

There was no room in the Windies team for uncapped Trinidad and Tobago off-spinner Bryan Charles or Guyanese pacer Shamar Joseph.

West Indies playing XI for first Test vs South Africa:

Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Joshua Da Silva (vice-captain), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Mikyle Louis, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican.