Published: Aug 09, 2016, 10:49 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 09, 2016, 10:50 AM (IST)
After a tame draw in the second of the four-Test series against West Indies, the Indian cricket team will once again be determined to put up a strong overall performance to thwart the Caribbean side’s resurgence and seal a series win. The third Test begins on Tuesday at the Darren Sammy International Stadium, with both the teams likely to make some changes in their playing XIs. Having won the first Test by an innings and 92 runs, the Indian cricket team will be high on confidence for having dominated the West Indies for most of the series, despite an all-round show by Roston Chase in the second Test at Jamaica that denied India a sure win. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs West Indies 2016, 3rd Test at St Lucia
India will know that their five-bowler policy may not always work as there will be some good batting performances here and there, but more or less the bowling attack looks complete with plenty of options at their perusal. ALSO READ: India vs West Indies 3rd Test: Key battles
The lack of wickets from Amit Mishra may urge India to bring in Ravindra Jadeja, who promises to be a handy batsman who can contribute runs as well. But given the fact that Kohli and company have done well in the first two Tests in general with both bat and ball, they may not make any change. ALSO READ: Why two draws on the trot will be equivalent to a defeat for India
However, it is all speculative as the performances of the top-order batsmen have resulted in a very tight competition between four men. KL Rahul’s splendid century in the last Test has made him a strong contender in the top three, whereas Murali Vijay turning to training sessions and batting comfortably has resulted in a tussle. ALSO READ: Why Virat Kohli should prefer Ravindra Jadeja over Amit Mishra
The only worry which India have carried on so far in this series is the form of Cheteshwar Pujara, as the right-handed long-format specialist has shown all the promises but runs have just not flowed for him. Pujara remains the only Indian batsman so far without any half-century, and it will be extremely crucial for him to keep digging in for big scores which have been his forte.
On the other hand, a certain change which the West Indies will make in their batting line-up is the inclusion of the 22-year-old Shai Hope, who has been drafted in instead of Rajendra Chandrika. Hope did well against the Indians in the tour matches and along with Kraigg Brathwaite, he will be expected to provide strong beginnings. READ: India vs West Indies: ‘Assert supremacy, own Gros Islet’ mantra for Virat Kohli & co.
But if West Indies have to do well, they will need runs from Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels. While Bravo has struggled on all corners, Samuels at least has a half-century to save his face but only that much. Both these men are living dangerously as far as their performances are concerned, but as long as they continue to toe the line drawn by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), their place does not look in threat.
Chase, who became the first West Indian cricketer in 50 long years to have taken a five-wicket haul and score a century in the second Test at Jamaica, will be expected to keep taking giant strides in international cricket. For someone who averages more than 42 in the domestic circuit, making runs should not be tough for Chase who single-handedly defied India’s might at Jamaica in the second Test.
While both the teams find themselves in different scenarios and problems to deal with, India will continue to be termed favourites for their sheer firepower, whereas the unpredictable West Indies will have to prove that the fifth-day fightback at Jamaica was no flash in the pan.
Squads:
West Indies (for 3rd Test): Jason Holder (c), Kraigg Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Leon Johnson, Alzarri Joseph, Marlon Samuels.
India: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Stuart Binny, Amit Mishra.
Time: 19:30 IST | 10:00 local | 14:00 GMT
(Devarchit Varma is senior writer with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)
