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Toss won by West Indies (decided to bowl)
Catch all the action of the first Test between West Indies and Bangladesh through our live commentary.
Toss:
West Indies win toss and opt to bowl first.
Playing XIs:
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, Devon Smith, Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich(w), Jason Holder(c), Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Mahmudullah, Nurul Hasan(w), Mehidy Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Abu Jayed, Kamrul Islam Rabbi
Preview:
West Indies and Bangladesh commence a two-Test series on Wednesday with the hosts expected to continue the trend of greener, bouncier pitches and a pace attack seeking to put the visitors on the back foot from the outset. Having dropped below the Bangladeshis in the Test rankings to number nine, there is additional incentive for Jason Holder’s team to win the series which begins in Antigua and move back up to number eight at the expense of their Asian opponents. With the second Test to follow at Sabina Park in Jamaica a week later, the tourists would have noted carefully the quality of the playing surfaces for the just-concluded three-Test series against Sri Lanka, which ended on a bowler-friendly pitch at Kensington Oval in Barbados. The Sri Lankans fought back to achieve a series-levelling four-wicket win, the first time a day/night Test was played in the Caribbean and the first time that a team from Asia had ever won a Test match at that famed venue. Without ace seamer Mustafizur Rahman, who is still recovering from a toe injury, Bangladesh lack the firepower to match what the West Indies are expected to unleash over the two matches.
Shannon Gabriel, who topped all bowlers in the Sri Lanka series with 20 wickets, including a record-breaking 13 in the second match in St Lucia, will spearhead a pace line-up that will also include Holder, who took nine wickets in the defeat at Bridgetown, and the experienced Kemar Roach. While Devendra Bishoo will again fill the role of specialist spinner, it is felt that all-rounder Keemo Paul will get the nod over the incumbent Miguel Cummins for the fourth and final seamer’s spot. In contrast, Bangladesh are relying on the experience of Rubel Hossain to challenge what has proven to be a very vulnerable West Indies top-order batting. It remains to be seen if the uncapped Abu Jayed is given the opportunity to share the new ball in conditions which may actually be encouraging for the 24-year-old. There is no doubt though that the Bangladeshis’ main bowling strength at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will rest in the spin department in the shape of captain and all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, off-break bowler Mehidy Hasan and off-spinning all-rounder Mahmudullah. Shakib and Mahmudullah are among six players of the present Bangladesh squad with happy memories of their first visit to this part of the cricketing world in 2009 when they dominated the Tests and One-Day Internationals against a West Indies team severely depleted by a standoff between the premier players and the regional administrators.
Their last visit to the Caribbean though, in 2014, was a huge disappointment as the team led by Mushfiqur Rahim was no match for a full-strength home side. This tour, which also incorporates three ODI’s and three T20’s, therefore represents an opportunity to show on foreign fields if they have really made meaningful progress after what has generally been a long and trying apprenticeship at the top level of international cricket. Former captain Rahim, now relieved of wicketkeeping responsibilities, and opener Tamim Iqbal represent the fulcrum of the Bangladesh batting along with Shakib and Mahmudullah. For the West Indies, the recall of opening batsman Devon Smith after three years off the international scene for the Sri Lanka series proved a failure and he is expected to make way in the final eleven for the first Test for Shimron Hetmyer to return at the number three spot. Kieran Powell is likely to move back up to open the batting with vice-captain Kraigg Brathwaite. After they were routed for just 93 in the second innings in Barbados – their lowest-ever Test innings total at Kensington – the West Indies batting remains a source of major concern and could be exposed yet again by a varied Bangladesh attack that comes into this series confident that they have the quality to curb the Caribbean batsmen.
Commentary (West Indies innings)
The Windies will be cock-a-hoop as they have been flawless. Credit to their bowlers as they didn't bowl any no balls and the fielders didn't drop any catches as well. Seems that they have sorted this issues out after the Sri Lanka series. Kemar Roach was the one who dictated terms in Antigua. He proved his caliber to take his 8th Test fifer and was a joy to watch! The hosts will be aiming to bat sensibly and with positive intent. Bangladesh have to draw inspiration from somewhere in order to infuse life into the contest. Will they bounce back or will it be one-way traffic? Join us for the second session in a while.
Nothing much to write about Bangladesh. It is understood that they are not used to these kind of bouncy tracks but at this level, you can't give any excuses. Though they are 8th on the Test rankings, just one above Windies but the way they were found wanting in challenging conditions proves that they have a lot of work to do. The mindset has to be questioned as well. Even after losing half their side, Liton Das was batting recklessly and paid the price.
If you are wondering whether the match has started late, don't bother! We have witnessed an extraordinary couple of hours wherein a team was shot out in 90 minutes. The Windies made full use of the pitch after winning the toss with Roach and Cummins making merry. It was then supposed to be a tricky little phase for the opening pair of the hosts but the Bangladeshi bowlers didn't look threatening at all. Seems like they will have to toil hard throughout if they don't get into the act.
2.6 Abu Jayed to Smith, Jayed loses his radar and slips this one down the leg side, Smith leaves it happily. THAT'S LUNCH ON DAY 1! 9/0
2.5 Abu Jayed to Brathwaite, Full delivery on the pads, tucked through square leg for a single. 9/0
2.4 Abu Jayed to Brathwaite, As opposed to the Windies bowlers, the Bangladesh bowlers haven't been able to extract much bounce from the good length area. This one is outside off as Kraigg dabs it with ease to covers. 8/0
2.3 Abu Jayed to Brathwaite, Pitched up delivery outside off, Kraigg is in no mood to flirt with it. 8/0
2.2 Abu Jayed to Smith, Coming in with the natural around the wicket angle, tucked calmly around the corner for a run. 8/0
2.1 Abu Jayed to D Smith, Well played! Slightly overpitched outside off, Smith drives it from the toe end of his bat past Mushfiqur Rahim at extra cover. He chases it and keeps it down to a couple. 7/0
1.6 R Hossain to Brathwaite, In the channel outside off, Kraigg lets it go. A maiden for Hossain but nothing fiery in the over! 5/0
1.5 R Hossain to Brathwaite, A touch fuller in length, kept out watchfully. 5/0
1.4 R Hossain to K Brathwaite, Edged but safe! Good length ball outside off, Brathwaite shuffles across in order to defend it but gets it off the outer half towards third slip. The key was that he played it with soft hands. 5/0
1.3 R Hossain to Brathwaite, A big grunt from Hossain as he lands this on a length but the line is well outside off. Brathwaite doesn't flirt with it. 5/0
1.2 R Hossain to Brathwaite, Outside off, moving away a touch. Kraigg points his bat skywards to let it be. 5/0
1.1 R Hossain to Brathwaite, Good length ball outside off, no real movement on that occasion. Brathwaite taps it towards point. 5/0
Rubel Hossain to share the new ball from the other end.
0.6 Abu Jayed to Smith, Full ball attacking the stumps, Smith turns it towards fine leg. Some aggressive running between the wickets allows the batsmen to come back for a couple. 5 from the first over. 5/0
0.5 Abu Jayed to Smith, Back of a length ball around off, played with an open bat face to point. 3/0
0.4 Abu Jayed to Smith, Full delivery but it is down the leg side, Devon tries to flick it away but the ball brushes his pads and flies behind. Nurul dives to his right but fails to gather it cleanly. 3/0
0.3 Abu Jayed to Smith, Seems like the debutant is a skiddy customer! He comes around the wicket to the left-hander and bowls a fuller length ball on off. Smith stays back and clips it through backward square leg for a couple to get going. 3/0
0.2 Abu Jayed to Brathwaite, Brathwaite and Windies are away! Back of a length ball around off, Kraigg punches it through covers for a single. 1/0
0.1 Abu Jayed to Brathwaite, Starts off with a length ball well outside off, Brathwaite doesn't fiddle with it. 0/0
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