Guyanese batsman Shimron Hetmyer has been included in the West Indies 15-man squad, which will lock horns against England in the highly anticipated CG United One Day International (ODI) home series set to get under way on Thursday.

Hetmyer, who last played the format in December 2023 against England, replaces Alick Athanaze as the only change from the squad that recently concluded a tour of Sri Lanka. Cricket West Indies (CWI) made the revelation on Tuesday.

The three-match ODI series begins with two ODIs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS) in Antigua on October 31 and November 2, aligning with Antigua’s Independence weekend celebrations, before the final showdown at Kensington Oval (KO) in Barbados on November 6.

West Indies Men’s Head Coach Daren Sammy expressed his excitement about returning to action against England.

"Playing against England always provides a new challenge and reignites a rivalry that the players and the people of the Caribbean are eager for. Somehow, we West Indies always find a way to raise our game when we face England," he said.

"This rivalry goes back for decades, and after defeating them last year at home for the first time in a long time in an ODI series, we’re ready to face the challenge of a strong England squad again. It’s always special to play at home, where the local support brings energy and passion to every match. With our sights set on qualifying for the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2027, we’ve selected a balanced squad that will no doubt push and compete with one of the best teams in the world," Sammy added.