Squad: Jason Holder (c), Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich (wk), Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer Shai Hope, Keemo Paul and Kemar Roach

Leeward Islands' Cornwall, a handy, hard-hitting lower-order batsman, leads the wicket-taking charts with 54 in 9 matches in the 2018-19 Professional Cricket League, the West Indies' domestic first-class competition. Since his first-class debut in 2014, Cornwall has formed an integral part of his side, even leading the team this season.

Robert Haynes, head of Cricket West Indies' interim selection committee, said, "Rahkeem has consistently performed over a long period and proven to be a match-winner, so we believe he merits elevation to the Test squad at this time.

Overall, the 26-year-old Cornwall has 260 wickets in 55 first-class games at 23.91 and was a part of the West Indies A team that played India A in two four-day games recently, in which he hit two half-centuries and bagged four wickets. "We believe he can provide an attacking option to our bowling attack with his sharp turn and extra bounce. He can also lend a bit of depth to the batting, so we are looking forward to him coming into the squad and making a valuable contribution,"" Haynes added.

Regarding Joseph, Haynes stated he is unfit "to last five days of a gruelling Test match" but is looking forward to his presence in "two important series coming up later in the year in India."" He emphasized the need to manage Joseph's recovery carefully.

The first Test against India starts on August 22 in Antigua while the next one on August 30 at Kingston as both sides commence their journey in the World Test Championship.