Alzarri Joseph Injury Forces Withdrawal from India Tour; West Indies Call Up Replacement

West Indies have been handed a big blow ahead of the commencement of the Test series in India later this week after pacer Alzarri Joseph was ruled out of the tour. Joseph had scans after complaining of discomfort and the results revealed 'a degeneration of the previously resolved lower back injury,' according to a statement from Cricket West Indies on social media.

Jediah Blades, who is uncapped at the Test level, has been drafted in as cover for the two Tests. Blades, who is currently a part of the T20I squad to face Nepal in Sharjah, will join the Test group in India after the completion of the series in the UAE. He made his ODI debut for West Indies at the end of last year and has played seven matches across the white-ball formats so far.

CWI also confirmed that they had initially approached Jason Holder to come in as Joseph's replacement. However, the allrounder declined selection citing a planned medical procedure. The first Test of the series kicks off on October 2 in Ahmedabad and the second and final Test will begin on October 10 in Delhi.