Published: Jul 20, 2016, 06:23 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 21, 2016, 07:48 AM (IST)
The much-awaited India tour of West Indies 2016 will kick off with the first Test at Antigua on July 21. Both the teams will look to start strongly, and set the bar high for the remaining matches. There has been lot of talk coming into this series. For India, Anil Kumble’s appointment as the head coach has been publicly discussed. He has been very vocal regarding his methods and training regimes. On the first look, he has left quite an impression. As for the hosts West Indies, their much changed squad has a lot to do in order to overcome the Indian challenge. Despite playing at home, not many are giving them a chance. So it is upto them to prove the detractors wrong. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs West Indies, 1st Test match
West Indies are a new looking team coming into the four-match series. Many players from the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 winning squad have had issues with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), hence their selection was beyond imagination. As for the players who featured in tri-nation series 2016, only few of them have stayed, with the likes of Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin not selected in the first Test squad. Ahead of the game at Antigua, R Narayan predicts the hosts’ starting XI.
Top-Order: Kraigg Brathwaite and Rajendra Chandrika are set to continue as openers for hosts in the Test format, having opened together twice earlier. K. Brathwaite is the vice-captain of West Indies, and has been decent in his 27-Test career. On the opposite, Chandrika is just getting started, having only played 3 Tests before this. It will be a good opportunity for him to stake a regular place in his team’s set-up.
At No.3, Darren Bravo will hope to continue his good form from the Tri-Nation series. Most of his success has come in the longer format, with average of 41.50. As one of the most experienced player in the side, he will be expected to lead the batting unit against a formidable Indian bowling line-up.
Middle-Order: Marlon Samuels will come in at No.4, and just like Bravo, will be key to West Indies’ success. He doesn’t have the greatest of stats in Test cricket, but is a formidable batsman to say the least. Considering the batting unit is short on experience, he will be looked upon by others. At No.5, expect Jermaine Blackwood or Leon Johnson to slot in. Blackwood hasn’t been exceptional in his 15-match Test career so far, but has shown promise. As for Johnson, he played just 4 Tests, and the signs have been positive. Also in the race to start is uncapped Roston Chase, but expect one of these two to play.
There will be a huge responsibility on the shoulders of Shane Dowrich, who will be playing in place of Ramdin. Dowrich is just getting started in the international stage, and has only played 2 Tests before. His record in First-Class level is pretty decent for a wicketkeeper. Carlos Brathwaite will be expected to slot in at No.7, although skipper Holder is also an option. Both the players are the all-rounders for their team, but expect Brathwaite to nudge his skipper for this spot.
Lower-Order: If not No.7, then No.8 is where Holder will feature. The West Indies skipper is still just 24 years old, and has loads of potential. The only issue till now has been has struggle to find the defined role. If he has to step up in this series, West Indies will hope he succeeds as a bowler. The bowling trio of Miguel Cummins, Devendra Bishoo and Shannon Gabriel will be expected to fill in the final three spots.
Cummins has come in as the replacement for recently retired Jerome Taylor, and may well slot straight into the starting XI. Bishoo was excellent last time India came to the Caribbean, so expect him to be at his best. Finally, Gabriel will assume the role of the lead bowler, despite being relatively new himself in the international level.
West Indies’ probable XI: Kraigg Brathwaite, Rajendra Chandrika, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Jermaine Blackwood/Leon Johnson, Shane Dowrich (wk), Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder (c), Devendra Bishoo, Shannon Gabriel, Miguel Cummins
(R Narayan is a reporter with CricketCountry, and is an ardent cricket and football enthusiast (big Manchester United fan). Having followed cricket since 2003, he likes high scoring matches as well as good fast bowling. His Twitter handle is @RNarayan24nov)
