Dowrich ruled out of opening Test with ankle injury

West Indies Test wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich has sustained an ankle injury and has been omitted from playing in the ongoing first Test match between West Indies and India.

Having played 30 Test matches for the Caribbean team, Dowrich has had to hand over the gloves to regular One Day International (ODI) wicket-keeper Shai Hope, who has taken smart catches to dismiss India’s in-form batsmen Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari.
West Indies ‘A’ team player and Leeward Islands wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton has been called up as cover for Hope, while former West Indies Under-19 pacer Chemar Holder has also been called into the squad as cover.
Recognised as the number one Test wicketkeeper in the Caribbean, Dowrich has scored three Test centuries and eight half-centuries. Hamilton, who captained the West Indies XI against India in the three-day warm-up match, has been in the Test squad for the tour to India, where he kept wicket as a substitute. He is yet to make his Test debut, since the Barbadian duo of Dowrich and Hope enjoy the advantage of preference.
Chemar Holder, who has shown great promise in the recently concluded India ‘A’ tour, is closer to a Test debut. The Barbadian has taken 40 first class wickets in his 11 matches, and has a best bowling figure of 5-54 against the star-studded India ‘A’ team, which he took last month.
A wicketkeeper injury would suggest that Anthony Bramble, leading wicketkeeper-batsman at the 4-day level, should have been called up as cover for Dowrich.