U-19 World Cup star Alzarri Joseph to join WI squad

He ran in like Usain Bolt, bowled for about an hour-an-a-half: Langer

Uncapped teenage fast bowler Alzarri Joseph will join the 13-member West Indies squad for the second Test against India starting in Kingston, Jamaica on July 30, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said.

The 19-year-old Joseph has performed outstanding bowling feats for the U-19 side, where he snared 13 wickets to lead West Indies to their World Cup title in Bangladesh.

No other changes have been made to the Jason Holder-led squad which looked inexperienced against India's supremacy in the first game as they were thrashed by an innings and 92 runs.

Joseph, who has taken 24 wickets from 8 first class games, bowled the fastest ball in the ICC Under-19 youth World Cup at 91.5mph and consistently hovered around the high 80s-90mph.

If West Indies look to play an extra fast bowler in Jamaica, they will have to choose between two uncapped players Joseph and the 25-year-old Barbados quick Miguel Cummins, who was part of the squad for the first Test but did not make the playing XI.

"We feel that Alzarri, who led the attack so expertly in the ICC Youth World Cup earlier this year in Bangladesh, will now benefit from the professional guidance of our coaching staff and the presence of fast bowling legend Joel Garner as manager," said Courtney Browne, chairman of the West Indies selection panel.

Former Australian batsman Justin Langer had also heaped praise on Joseph after Australia's victory in the ODI tri-series final in Barbados recently.

"He ran in like Usain Bolt, bowled for about an hour-an-a-half … he's a beautiful athlete and he bowled fast," Langer said.

"He's big and tall and reminds me of Andre Russell. 

"He bowled fast and beautiful yorkers. And what an athlete," he said. 

West Indies Squad: Jason Holder (c), Kraigg Brathwaite (vc), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Rajindra Chandrika, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph, Leon Johnson, Marlon Samuels