Venue: Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
A massive defeat at the hands of Virat Kohli’s men should have stirred national conscience in the Caribbean islands. While capable cricketers like Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo continue to be left out, an inexperienced bunch of youngsters led by Jason Holder struggle to find ways to put up some sort of challenge against the Indians.
The innings defeat was as much a result of naive cricket and lack of application, as it was of poor team selection. A Test team packed with all-rounders is never an ideal combination, especially when none of the frontline bowlers are lethally effective. No wonder, therefore, that India went on to pile up more than 550 runs in less than two days without breaking a sweat.
BIG PICTURE
The West Indies have a lot to ponder. Selection issues are going to crop up, and addressing them at the earliest is vital to restricting the damage that has already been done. With that said, don’t expect much to change, it hasn’t in a long time.
Only a palpable improvement in performance can do the job for the hosts. Unless that happens, Holder’s inexperienced boys will be outplayed in all departments by a clinical India once again. The Darren Bravos and Jermaine Blackwoods need to step up, as do the captain himself.
The form guide suggests a far better picture for India. The convincing win in the first match – their biggest victory in away Tests – are sure to provide them the self-belief and assurance needed to better their record overseas.
VENUE
The Sabina Park in Jamaica
Sabina Park boasts a capacity of 20,000, an increase of 5,000 that occurred as a consequence of the massive renovation ahead of the 2007 World Cup. The Blue Mountains End, aptly named after the spectacular range that lends a picturesque backdrop to the onfield action, and the George Headley Stand End provide our bowlers’ choices.
Located in the driest part of Kingston, the ground used to be one of the hardest and fastest tracks in the Caribbean. Recent years, however, have witnessed it losing much of its repute and gradually evolving into a more docile venue with a slow surface.
After the demoralising defeat in the first Test at Antigua, the bigger worry for the West Indies should be the Indian attack, not the ground. The pitch, in itself, offers no demons, but the Ashwins and Mohammed Shamis can well turn it into a nightmare, as we have already seen.
WATCH OUT FOR – Kraigg Brathwaite and Ashwin
Reserved and self-effacing, Kraigg Brathwaite’s non-flashy batting has been the tale behind almost every decent West Indian top-order resistance in recent times. While the focus has mostly revolved around the negatives, Brathwaite’s gradual rise in Test cricket is a rare good indicator for the West Indies’ future.
A 74 in the first innings of the first Test may seem too inconsequential compared to the opposition skipper’s double ton and a No. 6’s resilient 113, but the fact that those 74 runs came off three times as many deliveries in nearly five hours at the crease tells a far different story.
One of the few things that make Brathwaite stand out among his team-mates is his fantastic ability to resist going after the good deliveries. He is calm and believes in perseverance – qualities that the Windies are yearning for and those that may well be useful if they are to punch above their weights at Kingston.
Ashwin was India’s game changer in the first Test
The thing about Ravichandran Ashwin is that he keeps on learning. Being an intelligent cricketer, he analyses and understands his mistakes like none other, and more importantly, derives a lesson or two from them. This is the quality that helped him grab 7-83 in the second innings at Antigua after going wicketless in the first.
His batting skills have never been in question. Those who have witnessed him in action have always marveled at his technique and timing. Kohli’s decision to send him ahead of Wriddhiman Saha in the first Test not only boosted his confidence but also rendered him enough time to concentrate on his brand of cricket without having to worry about wickets falling at the other end.
This tour gives Ashwin the opportunity to prove a reliable all-rounder and grant his batting the recognition that it had always deserved. With more than a few tricks up his sleeve in both the departments, the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings may prove to be more than a handful for the West Indies once again.
TEAMS
West Indies
One defeat shouldn’t be the reason for any major changes in the playing XI but having said that, West Indies’ team selection was surprisingly poor in the first Test. With only Shannon Gabriel and Devendra Bishoo as specialist bowlers, Holder definitely felt the scarcity of options once the all-rounders began to go for runs.
Roston Chase has done very little to secure his place, and West Indies would do well to replace him with another specialist pacer in Miguel Cummins. Going with practically two-and-a-half bowlers in contrast to India’s five was a blunder, and the selectors seem to have realised that. The recent call-up of Alzarri Joseph to join the squad is a nod in that direction.
Kraigg Brathwaite, Rajendra Chandrika, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich (wk), Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel, Miguel Cummins, Devendra Bishoo
India
India’s outing in the first Test has mostly been about positives than anything else. Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are all established in Test cricket, and there is little to be inferred from their failures in a single innings. With Shikhar Dhawan now joining the party with a well-made 84, KL Rahul’s chances of breaking in appear non-existent at least for the second Test.
The five-bowler strategy worked fine for Kohli at Antigua, and none expects him to alter the winning combination in the second Test. However, being the shrewd tactician that Kumble is, one of the the reserve players may get a surprise look-in, purely on strategic grounds.
Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav
