History is on the side of the home team West Indies, as they face Bangladesh in the opening game of the three-match One Day International (ODI) Series beginning today.
Historically, West Indies have played Bangladesh 28 times in this format, winning 19 of those outings.
The Windies players are also high in confidence from registering a 2-0 thrashing in the recently concluded two-test series.
However, at this venue, the National Stadium, Providence, West Indies have lost more than they have won, winning only six times in their 13 appearances.
Additionally, West Indies teams have only won five matches in the last 12 months, all of which came since January 2018.
In comparison, Bangladesh have lost five of their eight matches in the same period.
Looking at the West Indies side, a lot of the players can feel confident with the surface with the head curator already asserting the wicket to have some amount of grass on it.
Jason Mohammed, who turns out for the local T20 franchise, Guyana Amazon Warriors, scored two half centuries last year for the West Indies when they played Pakistan in three ODIs at the ground, losing two and winning one.
Skipper Jason Holder, Kieran Powell, Shai Hope and Evin Lewis have also been amongst the runs at the venue.
Against this opposition, the returning Andre Russell has only scored 18 runs from six matches while Chris Gayle has averaged only 22 from 15 matches.
Both players failed in Thursday’s warm up match against Bangladesh where they turned out for the University of the West Indies Vice Chancellor’s XI.
The Windies will be without their two leading run scorers against this side in Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels.
But Lewis averages 70 and will look to give West Indies a good start if given the nod.
Keemo Paul and Shimron Hetmyer who have played most of their cricket at this venue are also likely to step up and make an immediate impact despite it being early days in their careers.
However, Bangladesh are no pushovers, as is evidenced by their lone ODI at Providence where they destroyed South Africa by 67 runs in the 2007 World Cup.
Though that was 11 years ago, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mustfiqur Rahim are still in the side.
Undoubtedly, those three will look to lead the visitors with the bat as they like Anamul Haque, Mahmudullah all average over 30 in the format.
With the track set to assist the batsmen, the bulk of the scoring will have to come from those five if Bangladesh is to post a winning total.
The first ball bowls off from 09:30hrs.
West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope (WK) Kieran Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder (captain), Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Devendra Bishoo, Keemo Paul Alzarri Joseph, Ashley Nurse, Jason Mohammed.
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Shakib Al Hasan Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain , Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Hider, Abu Jayed, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Nazmul Islam, Anamul Haque.
