ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – West Indies take an inexperienced squad into the opening Test against India starting here today, hoping that the young side can make a significant impact and shape the ailing side’s fortunes for the future.
Key familiar faces are missing. For the first time in an India series, there is no Shiv Chanderpaul after the veteran Guyana left-hander was axed for poor form last year. Also missing is the new-ball pair of Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach, for varying reasons.
Taylor abruptly retired from Test cricket two weeks ago while fellow fast bowler Roach is searching for match fitness after recovering from injury.
It means West Indies enter the series with Marlon Samuels as their most experienced batsman with 64 Tests to his name. Left-hander Darren Bravo is the next most experienced with 42 games but no one else has played 30 games.
In fact, outside of opener Kraigg Brathwaite, no one else has even played 20 Tests but captain Jason Holder said there were no qualms about fielding the youthful side against the mighty Indians.
“I’m really confident with the young group that we have. Most of these guys have been performing really well in domestic competition,” Holder told a media conference here yesterday.
“You’ve got young Roston Chase who is in the squad for the first time, he averages around 40 in first class cricket. You’ve got Shane Dowrich who has been doing well over the last few seasons, Leon Johnson had a really good season.
“These are just a few names who went back into the first class competition and did really well and all of them are really eager for an opportunity. We are very confident going into this series with them.”
Only the right-handed Chase is uncapped with all the others having already tasted international cricket. Johnson averages nearly 40 from four Tests but has not played in nearly a year-and-a-half while Dowrich, who replaced the dropped Denesh Ramdin as wicketkeeper, has a half-century in two Tests against Australia last year.
Holder, himself a relative newcomer to Test cricket, said there was much incentive for the inexperienced players to perform.
“What motivates this young group is that all of them are trying to make a mark on the international scene. It’s a very young team, many of us are still trying to make our way in international cricket,” the Barbados all-rounder pointed out.
“I think it is just important for the youngsters to come in and make their mark, solidify their place in the team and make a name for themselves. There’s a rich legacy in West Indies cricket and many of the young players are looking to make a legacy for themselves.”
He added: “We’ve got a young side. It’s good to see we have some fresh faces and we’re looking to build something. All I stress in the dressing room to the guys is keep improving. You can’t expect leaps and bounds too much from a very young side but once you get the steady progression in terms of improvement I think we’ll move forward.”
The lack of experience in the bowling attack is noticeable. Taylor’s retirement has robbed the side of the experience of 46 Tests and 130 wickets and the absence of Roach means West Indies can rely on a player who has also taken over 100 Test wickets.
Holder, Gabriel and Brathwaite, with just 31 Tests among them, constitutes the seam attack but Holder still believes West Indies can make inroads into the Indian batting line-up, once they stuck to their bowling plans.
“If you look at our side again we have Miguel Cummins who comes into the squad who’s done really well for the last two seasons in domestic cricket,” he argued.
“We’ve got Shannon Gabriel who’s been bowling well for a while but he’s been struggling with some injuries in the recent past but he’s fit and ready to go. There’s Carlos Brathwaite and myself are the two seamers in the team and we’re looking to do what we are asked to do.
“I think it is important that every bowler knows their role. Shannon is obviously a very fast and aggressive bowler; Miguel similarly. Myself and Carlos are mainly the workhorses in the unit so it’s just about knowing your role. I don’t think there’s pressure really, it’s just once you understand your role you perform your role.”
SQUADS:
WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Leon Johnson, Rajendra Chandrika, Marlon Samuels, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Carlos Brathwaite, Miguel Cummins, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Shannon Gabriel.
INDIA – Virat Kohli(captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Cheteshwar Pujara, Lokesh Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha, Rohit Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Murali Vijay, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.
