West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph has been ruled out of the upcoming two Tests in India.
Joseph was part of the West Indies’ 15-member squad for the Test tour of India, which also included a maiden call-up for Khary Pierre. However, the fast bowler has now been ruled out of the two-Test series starting on October 2. Cricket West Indies confirmed Joseph's unavailability in a post on X but did not reveal the nature or extent of his injury.
His most recent outing was in the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ runners-up campaign in the 2025 CPL. Joseph played five of his team’s 12 matches in the tournament, taking five wickets at an average of 21.40 and an economy rate of 7.13.
Joseph made his Test debut in January last year, picking up a five-wicket haul. In only his second Test, battling a toe injury caused by a Mitchell Starc yorker, he produced a sensational spell of 7-68 to give West Indies a memorable victory at the Gabba. It was their first Test win on Australian soil since 1997. Among bowlers with at least 50 wickets since his debut, Joseph has the fourth-best average (21.66). He has particularly dominated Australia; 22 of his 51 wickets came at an average of 14.95 during the recent home Test series in July.
Johann Layne named as Shamar Joseph's replacement
Johann Layne has been named as Joseph’s replacement for the India series. Layne, 22, is a fast-bowling all-rounder from Barbados who has taken 66 wickets at 22.28 from 19 first-class matches, besides scoring 495 runs at 19.03. He was part of the West Indies A squad for the unofficial Test series against South Africa A in June, where he scored 62 runs in four innings and took one wicket in each of the three innings he bowled in.
However, his highlight was the recent domestic first-class season for the West Indies Academy, where he picked up 27 wickets in six matches at an average of 15.88, including two five-wicket hauls and two four-wicket hauls.
This will be the first time since 2018 that West Indies will tour India for a Test series.
Squad Update 🚨
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) September 26, 2025
Johann Layne has replaced Shamar Joseph in the squad for the test series against India.
Joseph has been ruled out due to an injury and will be re-evaluated ahead of the Bangladesh limited overs series.#INDvsWI | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/2z5uiZSicu
