West Indies vs Bangladesh Test Series Preview

A week from today, the opening test match of the West Indies vs Bangladesh series starts in Antigua at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound. It is an important series for the two sides currently placed at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship table. Following the opening test match in Antigua, the teams will move on to Sabina Park for the second and final test of the series.

The tourists have a number of interesting changes from their usual test line up. Captain Najmul Hosain Shanto is missing due to injury, as is experienced batsman Mushfiqur Rahim. With no Shakib Al Hasan or Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh will field a significantly weakened and inexperienced top order. Mehidy Hasan Miraz will lead the side in Shanto's absence. Shahadat Hossain, a 22 year old batsman who has played four tests (118 runs at avg 14) is the replacement for Shanto. Keeper batsman Litton Das returns to the side and will likely bat at seven, with Shadman, Mahmudul and Zakir Hasan likely batting in the top order. The pace attack will be headed by Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful and Nahid Rana, with Hasan Murad, an uncapped slow left armer, joining the skipper and Taijul Islam in the spin department.

West Indies test team was last in action back in August, when they narrowly lost to South Africa by 40 runs in Providence following a drawn first test in Port-of-Spain. Against Bangladesh, the hosts will hope for better results and be looking for development from the likes of opening batsman Mikyle Louis, top order batsmen Keacy Carty and Alick Athanaze, along with continued progress shown by young fast bowlers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph.

The Coolidge Cricket Ground will host a two day warm up game, starting Sunday 17th November.

In reply to 4REALQUICKS

In reply to 4REALQUICKS

Thanks, 4RQ. I see that you have optimistically mentioned the name of Athanaze. I think that with the current form of Jangoo, Wickham, Imlach and Greaves, his spot and that of Hodge must be in danger. It will be interesting to see who will be the 5th bowler. Would WI go brave and pick Springer? My XI (breaking the mold)

Louis
Nandu
Carty
Jangoo
Wickham
Imlach
Springer
Motie
Aljo
Shamar
Seales
Greaves and Bryan Charles as reserves

In reply to 4REALQUICKS

Looks like Greaves is in that warm up match as he is absent from today's game vs Jamaica?

this is the perfect series to try some new players and change up things.they cant do any worse than what they have been doing in this format.

The West Indies squad has been announced (source, windiescricket.com)

Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain)
Joshua Da Silva (Vice-Captain)
Alick Athanaze
Keacy Carty
Justin Greaves
Kavem Hodge
Tevin Imlach
Alzarri Joseph
Shamar Joseph
Mikyle Louis
Anderson Phillip
Kemar Roach
Jayden Seales
Kevin Sinclair
Jomel Warrican

In reply to 4REALQUICKS

I do not understand this love for Anderson Phillip.

Jair McAllister is a better choice.

But then again, we will see in the warm up game if I am wrong.

Does anyone know where the developmental play Thorne is?

Brathwaite will also lead the XI that plays in the warm up game at Coolidge. The squad is as follows:

CWI Select XI squad

Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Justin Greaves (vice-capt), Ryan Bandoo, Daniel Beckford, Navian Bidaisee, Joshua Dorne, Nathan Edward, Chaim Holder, Tevin Imlach, Jordan Johnson, Jair McAllister, Shaaron Lewis, Kimani Melius

In reply to 4REALQUICKS

McKenzie can't make this team, or they put him out to pasture!

In reply to XDFIX

The select XI does have some names missing from those we may have expected to see included. Hopefully, a few of these young guys will step up and show us something over the next few days.

McKenzie got a couple of decent scores earlier this month, his first cricket since the shambolic showing in England...but then several failures in the past week or so may well have put him back out of the picture. Either way, he is young (just turned 24) so has time to go and work on his game and come back stronger.

In reply to TanteMerle

Thorne played a couple of games for Guyana recently, taking one wicket against Leewards but proving expensive in both short spells. He is without doubt, one for the future though and I am surprised not to see him in the select XI line up as that is exactly the sort of exposure he needs.

Also of note is that Jason Holder is rested for this series due to shoulder rehab and Alzarri Joseph, although back in the squad, has not regained his position as vice captain. Joshua Da Silva retains that role, a move I personally am glad to see.

In reply to PalsofMine

I would have liked to see one or two guys you mentioned in the select XI at the very least. Namely, Kevin Wickham who I have high hopes for and Amir Jangoo.

In reply to 4REALQUICKS

First, Joseph did not earn his VC position.

Second, after the shenanigans in the T20 series, you really think that he is on any type of captaincy radar.

Scammy is not the red ball coach.

In reply to XDFIX

What you think?

In reply to 4REALQUICKS

mek no difference. clean sweep for Bangla

In reply to natty_forever

Injustice!