Roston Chase has never been shy of reinvention and, aged 33, he will pull on yet another hat when he leads West Indies in the three-match home Test series against Australia that starts in Bridgetown on 25 June. The all-rounder replaces Kraigg Brathwaite despite having not played a Test since March 2023 and after only two previous outings as white-ball captain.
“I’ve never captained a senior team in terms of the West Indies team or Barbados team (in Tests). But I’ve captained eight teams in the West Indies before,” he reminded reporters during a media call organised by FanCode. “ I think I’m a good leader. Obviously, I’m not perfect. I’m still learning.”
Key figures inside Cricket West Indies clearly share that belief; director of cricket Miles Bascombe and new head coach Daren Sammy were both heavily involved in the appointment. “The captaincy conversations that I had would have been with the coach, Darren Sammy, and Miles Bascombe from the board,” Chase said.
Sammy – twice a T20 World Cup-winning skipper – had already lured Chase back towards the longest format. “I’ve been out for two years, but after Sammy approached me about coming back because I always wanted to come back and play Test cricket,” Chase explained. “I was exploring the white ball and the franchise cricket for a bit. And he asked me about coming back and I thought about it and I ended up making the decision to come back.”
The Barbadian’s record, 2265 runs at 27.62 with five hundreds and 81 wickets at 43, points to a cricketer of broad but occasionally untapped talent. His supporters say leadership responsibilities often sharpen that kind of player; sceptics point to the gulf between leading at club level and plotting against Pat Cummins’ world No.1 side.
Either way, Chase is plainly relishing the challenge. “I was very excited to get the captaincy. I mean, it is a very prestigious job,” he said. “One that many greats before me have done. So, it was a very proud moment for me when I got the news.”
The baton could have passed sooner. “I was asked in 2024 about coming back. But at that time, I was still finding my feet and trying to get into the franchise leagues. So, I wasn’t quite ready and had the time or the availability to come back into the Test arena. But after I had the conversation with Sammy and Bascombe, I decided that this was the right time for me to come back.”
Australia, holders of the World Test Championship mace, present a tough landing. West Indies have not beaten them in a Test since 2003 and lost 2-0 Down Under 18 months ago. Chase, though, tried to remove any sense of foreboding. “I wouldn’t call it [playing Australia] pressure,” he said. “They’re obviously the No.1 team in the world. We’re just looking to go there and play our best cricket, execute the plans that we spoke about in our team meetings and the data that has been presented to us. So, we’re just looking to go there and give a full 100 [percent] effort and play some hard cricket.”
Analysis: A calm demeanour can help a fielding side hold its nerve, and West Indies have sometimes lacked that trait late in sessions. The new skipper’s off-spin also offers his attack extra balance, allowing Sammy to mix three quicks with two spinners if surfaces tire. The big unknown is how quickly Chase can rediscover tempo with the bat, having spent most of the last year chasing franchise contracts.
Still, leadership groups seldom choose from perfect options; they choose the option that best fits the room. For now, West Indies believe a thoughtful, measured voice – one who “really know[s] how to bring out the best in the players” – is worth backing. We will find out soon enough whether calm can conquer Cummins.
