Kraigg Brathwaite, the West Indies Test captain, has announced his decision to step down after three years in the role. The 32-year-old will relinquish the captaincy ahead of the West Indies’ upcoming three-match Test series against Australia in the Caribbean, set for June and July 2025.

Brathwaite took on the leadership in March 2021, steering the team to a memorable home series victory over England in 2022 and securing the West Indies’ first Test win in Australia in 27 years during the 2024 tour. Under his guidance, the team finished eighth in the most recent World Test Championship standings.

With his decision to step aside, the West Indies will usher in a new era of leadership in their Test team. Brathwaite, who has played 98 Tests and scored 5,935 runs at an average of 33.15, will be replaced by an unnamed captain for the upcoming series against Australia.

In a related development, the West Indies will also appoint a new T20 captain, with Shai Hope taking over from Rovman Powell. Hope, 31, who previously captained the West Indies in One-Day Internationals (ODIs), will make his T20 captaincy debut during the six-match series against England and Ireland in June 2025.

Rovman Powell, who had captained the T20 side since 2023, led the team to victories in home series against India, England, and South Africa