Published: Jul 13, 2016, 03:57 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 13, 2016, 06:38 PM (IST)
After showing a decent showing in the first tour game against the West Indian Cricket Board (WICB) President’s XI visiting Indian side take on them again in their second warm-up match — this time in a three-day affair— at Warner Park in St Kitts. Indian side will be happy to play at the very same ground where they toiled hard against a good WICB President XI resulting in a drawn match. Virat Kohli will focus more on the teams bowling than their batting in this game. Batting first top three batsmen were all retired out with KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan all getting their fifties and Cheteshwar Pujara getting a gritty 34. With some help from the lower middle-order Indian managed to put 258 runs on the board. In the bowling department it was all about Amit Mishra who shined throughout whereas the other bowler’s toiled hard on a pitch which hardly offered anything. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs West Indies 2016, 1st Test at Antigua
Head coach Anil Kumble and captain Kohli will be wary of the fact it is high time that the players get into their groove as the first warm-up showcased India’s drawbacks in both batting and bowling. Speaking of batting, Murali Vijay is likely to get a look-in after missing the first game, which enabled Rahul to come in and open. Rahul proved his worth but knowing that Vijay is the cornerstone of this side he will want to have a outing ahead of the first Test as he is most likely to open with Dhawan in the Test series. Dhawan after scoring a fifty will want to show that it was not a fluke and would be eager to prove Kumble that he is a strong-headed candidate for opening. Pujara will in all probability get the coveted No. 3 slot, where he is best suited. Kohli’s form is important for India to do well abroad. He has been in excellent form throughout the year in the shortest format, but Test cricket is completely different. Kohli was dismissed early in the first game will hope to spend some more time out in the middle and avoid playing the any fancy cricket for the moment. Kumble introduces ‘fines for tardiness’ rule for India
All eyes will also be on Ajinkya Rahane, who was in good form in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016, will hope to showcase his batting prowess. Rahane has been scoring all across the world and will surely want to make a name for himself in the Caribbean Islands as well. Rohit Sharma too scored a fifty in the first warm-up match, which would have done his confidence a world of good. Rohit will hope to let his bat do all the talking on this tour. Wriddhiman Saha will want to live up to the trust shown by the captain and management in him by scoring runs which have come at a premium for the No. 1 Test wicketkeeper for India.
Mishra’s spell was one of his finest spell as it came on a pitch which offered nothing to the bowler’s apart from a bit of uneven bounce, which was exploited to perfection by him. Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami were expensive in the their 17-over spell going over 3.5 runs per over. Shami, who is coming back from injury would have been a bit scratchy and want to get rid of any cobwebs. Ishant Sharma, who managed only 13 overs was the most inconsistent of the four fast bowlers, will be aiming to be more in line rather than covering every area of the pitch. West Indies announce 12-man squad for Tests against India
The WICB President’s XI should be commended on their show against a strong and more experience Indian side. Shai Hope, who scored a hundred in the last match will feel unlucky to be left out of the Test squad and will be on a mission to prove the selectors wrong. Another player who will be disappointed will be Jomel Warrican, who grabbed India’s most crucial wickets in Kohli and Rahane was left out from the Test and second warm-up squad. To add insult to injury, Warrican does not find a place in this match. Leon Johnson will continue to lead the side. John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Chemar Holder and Gudakesh Motie After being dropped from the Test squad Kemar Roach will want to prove the selector wrong will be keenly observed.
Squads:
West Indies Board President’s XI : Leon Johnson (c), Jermaine Blackwood, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jason Dawes, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Chemar Holder, Shai Hope, Keon Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Vishaul Singh
India: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Stuart Binny
TIME: 19:30 IST | 14:00 GMT
(Vishal Mehra is a reporter at CricketCountry, who enjoys his weekly dose of anime, and plays cricket once a white moon. His twitter handle is @capturethecatch )
