Big News: Kraigg Brathwaite quits as West Indies Test captain ahead of Australia series, 31-yr-old appointed new T20I skipper in massive leadership shake-up

West Indies Team has undergone a big captaincy shake-up across formats as Kraigg Brathwaite has stepped down as their Test captain. Not the this, West Indies have also appointed Shai Hope as their new T20I captain. This transition comes at a crucial time, preceding the team's home series against Australia, which will also mark the start of a new ICC World Test Championship cycle.

Kraigg Brathwaite resigns as West Indies Test captain

Kraigg Brathwaite, who has held the Test captaincy since March 2021, communicated his decision to the Cricket West Indies (CWI) leadership earlier in the year, before the conclusion of the team's successful tour of Pakistan.

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“Brathwaite wanted to ensure the team had a period of transition before his departure. As a result, he has submitted his resignation ahead of the home series against Australia, giving the new leadership time to establish itself. This series will be particularly special, allowing Brathwaite, who is two matches shy of 100 test matches, to double down on his batting without added responsibility,” CWI confirmed in a statement.

“CWI extends its deepest gratitude to Kraigg Brathwaite for his years of service as captain, recognizing his dedication to West Indies cricket and his leadership in guiding the Test team to significant milestones. A new captain will be named in the coming weeks,” the statement added.

Kraigg Brathwaite's time as Test captain will be celebrated for numerous milestones. A standout achievement was leading the West Indies to a memorable eight-run win over Australia in Brisbane in 2024, marking their first Test win in Australia in 27 years. Earlier this year, he also captained the team to a historic series-levelling win in Pakistan, ending a 34-year wait for a Test win in that nation.

During his captaincy, the West Indies also notched a notable home series win against England in 2022. Moreover, under his leadership, the team secured a 2-0 series win against Bangladesh in challenging conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

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Shai Hope appointed West Indies' new T20I captain

The changes in leadership extend beyond the Test format, with Shai Hope taking on the role of T20I captain in addition to his existing captaincy of the ODI team. He succeeds Rovman Powell, who had been the T20I captain since May 2023. Under Rovman Powell's leadership, the West Indies experienced a notable resurgence in T20 cricket. The team secured home series victories against formidable opponents such as India, England, and South Africa, and also progressed to the Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024. During his time as captain, the West Indies climbed from ninth to fifth position in the ICC T20I rankings.

The captaincy transition came right ahead West Indies home Test series against Australia and white-ball tours to England and Ireland respectively. Notably, West Indies will play a three-match Test series against Australia starting from June 25.