West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Shane Dowrich has retired from international cricket at age 32. He was originally selected for West Indies’ upcoming home ODIs against England but has withdrawn from the squad. The CWI selection panel will not name a replacement for Dowrich for the three-match series, which begins on Sunday in Antigua.
Dowrich had earned a recall on the back of strong returns in the Super50 Cup, with 234 runs in five innings at an average of 78 and a strike rate of 91.76. In his absence, Shai Hope will have to juggle captaincy and keeping, as Nicholas Pooran is currently unavailable for selection for ODIs.
Dowrich played 35 Test matches from June 2015 to December 2020, scoring 1570 runs and effecting 90 dismissals. His career-best 125 not out fashioned a 226-run victory for West Indies against Sri Lanka in Port-of-Spain in June 2018, and he made an unbeaten 116 in an unbroken 295-run seventh-wicket stand with Jason Holder to help West Indies topple England in Bridgetown in January 2019.
Miles Bascombe, CWI’s Director of Cricket, paid tribute to Dowrich, saying, “He is a disciplined, hard-working cricketer who always gave his utmost in front and behind the stumps. We respect his decision to retire and appreciate it is not an easy one to make.”
West Indies ODI squad to face England: Shai Hope (capt, wk), Alzarri Joseph (vice-capt), Alick Athanaze, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Kjorn Ottley, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas
