(Web Desk) - Ahead of their Lord's meeting as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025 with England, West Indies have named a debutant in their XI.
Young batter Mikyle Louis will debut for the West Indies in their opening Test match against England at Lord's, beginning on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old from St Kitts was named when the West Indies put forward their playing XI a day ahead of the Test match and becomes the first St Kitts native to play Test cricket.
Louis has enjoyed a prolific start to his First Class career in the Caribbean, averaging 48.71 in his 14 innings for the Leeward Islands, compiling three centuries alongside four fifties. He comes off scores of 52, 80, 100 and 33 in his last four First Class innings, as well as a half-century against a County Select XI in the build-up to the Test match.
Louis beat out Zac McCaskie to a spot in the XI, and will open the batting with skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, who leads a relatively inexperienced side.
In the build-up to the Test match, Brathwaite put his men on notice, expecting little complacency by a group of players who should be desperate to cement spots.
"My advice to all the younger boys in the group, like Mikyle making his debut, is don't just expect to play for West Indies, expect to be the first to score 30 hundreds. You got to think big, you know. Don't think too small.
"We have our plans, so believe in your plan. And enjoy it as well. Because it's always a great series playing here in England. And we truly look forward to it."
West Indies sent shockwaves through the cricket world when they stunned Australia in Brisbane, beating the defending World Test Champions by eight runs, largely off the back of a supreme individual bowling performance from youngster Shamar Joseph.
The 24-year-old claimed 7/68 in the second innings of the victory, backing a gritty effort from his teammates with the bat.
Brathwaite looked back fondly on the result but insisted the team needs to move forward if they are to build on the success.
"It was a big positive for us to get a win, because it shows that we could we could get the job done," Brathwaite said.
"Obviously the key for us as a group is to do it consistently.
"We could take a lot of stuff from that game as batsmen, because we had some important partnerships. Then the bowlers were outstanding. Shamar was the star. But pretty much all the bowlers put in a very good effort, and we caught well as well.
"But it's history, it's gone. We got to look forward to this, then the other Test matches in this series, but it at least gives a start that we could get the job done. We've just got to believe in ourselves."
West Indies Playing XI: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Mikyle Louis, Kirk McKenzie, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales.