Can the West Indies bounce back in the Trinidad Test match?

 

West Indies is determined to distance themselves from the disappointment of their previous Test in Dominica, which ended in a disheartening defeat. The spin-friendly conditions in Dominica raised questions about the team’s composition as Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, the Indian spin duo, posed significant challenges for most West Indies batters. Besides glimpses of brilliance from the Test debutant, Alick Athanaze from Dominica, there was not much to cheer for the West Indies.

The upcoming match at The Queen’s Park Oval on July 20, 2023, holds historical significance, marking the 100th Test Cricket encounter between these cricket-loving nations. India has emerged victorious in 23 Tests, while West Indies has secured 30 wins. This Test will be the 14th face-off between India and West Indies in Trinidad.

Upon analyzing the West Indies team’s past performances, it is evident that they boasted a favorable record before 2002, with 30 wins and 8 losses. However, since then, their performance has been noticeably unsatisfactory. Notably, West Indies has not secured a Test victory against India in the last 21 years, constituting a prolonged, painful, and persistent winless streak.

Ahead of the 100th Test, Rahul Dravid, the head coach of India, addressed the media and emphasized the pressures and challenges faced by the current generation of West Indies players, often compared to the legendary West Indies side of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. He acknowledged the challenging circumstances and the absence of West Indies in the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023, expressing his belief in the talent and abilities of the current West Indies squad. Dravid remained hopeful that with the right infrastructure and resources, West Indies could reclaim their glory days.

Regarding the team composition for the second Test in Trinidad, Coach Dravid is not expecting any changes from the side that played in Dominica. However, the West Indies squad might experience alterations due to Rahkeem Cornwall’s health.

Traditionally, the pitch in Trinidad has favoured fast bowlers, and the home side boasts a more experienced bowling unit. The young talents of India, including Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ishan Kishan, will be eager to perform well. After an impressive performance in Dominica, Jaiswal, in particular, will be motivated to maintain his batting momentum.

The Trinidad Test match is expected to be more competitive, with West Indies’ chances of an outright win heavily dependent on their fast bowling unit.

 

Dr Nilesh Mehta

hiINDiA in Trinidad