The West Indies begin their four-match Test series today against India in Antigua, hoping to end a 14-year drought against the visitors in the longer format of the game.
The West Indies have not beaten India in a Test match since 2002 and in that period they have played 15 matches, with India innings eight and seven ending in draws. India remains the only side in the Top-five of world cricket that the West Indies have never beaten in 14 years.
The home team will be looking to turn around their fortunes against a much more experienced Indian outfit. The team's selectors have gone for a team short on vast experience and the few senior players left would have to take the lead. They one new opener, a new wicketkeeper, a new pace attack and a new spinner from the last time they played a Test. Five men from their last Test XI against Australia are not even in this 13-man squad. Expect a debut for Miguel Cummins, Rajendra Chandrika to open alongside Kraigg Brathwaite, and Devendra Bishoo and Shannon Gabriel to make comebacks.
Out against the Indians will be wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, who was dropped after getting two half centuries in his last Test appearance. Also absent would be pacer Jerome Taylor, who was initially selected on the team but retired soon after and had to be replaced. Simmons thinks Taylor's absence is a blow said team captain Jason Holder: "Taylor will be missed because he is the most experienced bowler we have. His last Test in the Caribbean he got six, so he will be missed."
Taylor has been replaced by the Barbadian Miguel Cummins: "Miguel was in Australia with us so it is good that he got some experience from the outside. Having him join us is a good thing," Holder.
Coach of the West Indies team Phil Simmons says that patience will be the key in doing well in this series. He pointed out that: "We have been together since the 11th (July) and things have been good, few hiccups in the camp with rain but generally it has been good. The boys have worked hard and they are ready to go out there and battle against the Indians. We tend to bored at times when we go out there in the Test match. This time around we are going to harp on being patient. The boys need to bat long, stick around and they will get the reward in the end. At the start of the series you expect that certain people will do well but what we want is that everyone who gets a start carries on and don't leave it to others."
Simmons added: "Every series is significant, we want to continue winning. We want to continue to build on what we started in Australia. The last two Tests in Australia were not that bad. We want to win every game, it is not only about the future but what we do now. India is one of the dangerous sides in the world and their batting line-up shows that. We have not played four back to back Test matches for a long time, so it will be challenging for us."
First ball is timed at 10am.
Teams
West Indies: Jason Holder (c), Kraigg Brathwaite, Rajendra Chandrika, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Leon Johnson, Shane Dowrich (wk), Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Shannon Gabriel, Miguel Cummins.
India: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, Stuart Binny, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma.