The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket
Venue: Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad
Pakistan (Playing XI): Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Abbas
West Indies (Playing XI): Brandon King, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope(w), Amir Jangoo, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase(c), Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales
West Indies have won the toss and have opted to bat
Roston Chase (West Indies captain):
[On winning the toss and choosing to bat first] We’re going to bat first. The wicket looks a bit dry, so we want to utilise the best part of it. We think it’s going to deteriorate later on, so batting first is the right option.
[On keeping the squad fresh despite a busy schedule] I think the Caribbean spirit gives us a bit of energy, knowing that we want to finish at No. 5 or No. 6 in the table. That gives the guys a strong mindset to go out there and give as much energy as possible.
[On playing the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy after Sir Garfield Sobers’ passing] I think it’s going to be a great experience for us playing the first official Test match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. And, as you said, the great man passed away last week. It’s a sad time in cricket, but we’re going to try our best, go out there and see if we can make him proud in his grave.
[On the team combination] We have three fast bowlers, one spinner and an all-rounder.
Babar Azam (Pakistan captain):
[On losing the toss] To be honest, if we had won the toss, we would have batted first as well. But unfortunately, the toss isn’t in your hands. We’re just trying to utilise the conditions because there’s a little bit more in the pitch, and we’outside the leg-stump look to make the most of that.
[On leading the side again] To be honest, we’ve got a lot of good things within our group. We’re just trying to execute our plans and back ourselves.
[On turning results around against the West Indies] We’re trying to focus on a lot of positive things and carry them forward. We had a camp over the last two or three months and played matches to prepare for this Test series, so we’re ready to execute our plans.
[On the team news] Yes, Usman is making his debut.
Pitch Report | Samuel Badree:
Quite fittingly, Test cricket arrives at a venue that bears the name of arguably the greatest batter the game has ever seen. It’s nice and cool out in the middle at the moment - around 29°C, although it feels closer to 31°C. With the Caribbean currently in the middle of hurricane season, there’s every chance of rain during the course of this Test, though hopefully any interruptions are few and far between. Looking at the surface, there’s a pleasing evenness about it. There’s a covering of brown grass, which I suspect has been left to help the pitch hold together over the full five days. The opening session should offer something for the seamers, with a bit of movement off the surface and some swing through the air, making life tricky for the batters early on. But that has to be weighed against the prospect of batting last on days four and five, when spin is likely to become a major factor. It’s a blank canvas at the start of a new chapter—who will claim the first five-wicket haul, and who will score the first Test century at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy? One thing is certain: whenever Pakistan and West Indies meet in Test cricket, unpredictability is never far away.
Day 1: 1st Session
WI 0 /0 (1.1)
Tagenarine Chanderpaul 0 (6)
Brandon King 0 (0)
Mohammad Abbas 1-1-0-0
WI 2 /0 (3.1)
CRR:0.63
Tagenarine Chanderpaul 0 (12)
Brandon Kingn2 (6)
Mohammad Abbas 2-2-0-0
WI 7 /0 (4) CRR:1.75
Tagenarine Chanderpaul 0 (13)
Brandon King 7 (11)
Khurram Shahzad 2-0-7-0
Mohammad Abbas 2-2-0-0
Chanderpaul is going to bore me to death cant watch it