The West Indies were far too strong for Bangladesh in the first Test, hitting them with the shock and awe of the quick bowling of Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel and putting the Tigers away inside three days. Bangladesh will need to adapt to the unique conditions in the Caribbean, which of late have recovered some of the pace of years gone by and the batsmen will need to find a way of countering the threat of the moving ball. Read our preview on the 2nd test here.
West Indies v Bangladesh
2nd Test Match
Thursday, 12 July – Monday, 16 July 2018
Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
17:00
To Win Match
West Indies 4/10
Draw 5/1
Bangladesh 9/2
West Indies
Having come into the series under pressure after slipping to a 1-1 series draw against Sri Lanka at home not so long ago, the West Indies eased into a more comfortable position after their display in the first Test against Bangladesh.
The batting had been under the microscope, particularly with the top three struggling for runs, though questions still remain about opener Devon Smith and number three Kieran Powell. The in-form Shimron Hetmyer has been included in the group after striking a ton against the tourists in their solitary warm-up ahead of the first Test.
Roach was in some discomfort even as he was slicing through the Bangladesh top order in Antigua and is in doubt for the second Test, with Keemo Paul or Alzarri Joseph waiting in the wings should the swing bowler not be passed fit.
That might leave Gabriel to lead the attack on his own – a role that had been made considerably easier since Roach returned to the Test outfit in England in 2017. The hosts will, however, be pleased with the bowling of skipper Jason Holder and first-change bowler Miguel Cummins, who were also among the wickets in the series opener.
Holder singled out all-rounder Roston Chase after a lean spell with the bat culminated with him being the only batsman not to contribute significantly to the cause in the innings victory last time out. Previous match-winning displays are likely to keep Chase and fellow spinner Devendra Bishoo in the team despite thin returns in recent times.
The weather is unlikely to be that much of a factor, though it will be hot and humid in Jamaica. The West Indies have won the last six Tests against Bangladesh, with their only defeats coming in the 2009 series in the Caribbean which the tourists won 2-0.
Bangladesh
After being mangled by the Proteas pace attack in two Tests last year and folding twice for less than 200 in seam-friendly conditions there are now big questions about Bangladesh’s ability to handle pace.
Their own pacemen did well enough in the first Test to suggest that the game might have gone differently had the scoreboard provided any pressure on the West Indies at all, with Abu Jayed showing good pace and movement in the absence of Mustafizur Rahman.
With plenty of batting experience in the team, new coach Steve Rhodes will be looking to the veterans to bounce back and give a better account of themselves – lest he be forced to wield the axe after just one series in charge.
The manner of the dismissals in Antigua will be most troubling. The Tigers showed a lack of application, in tricky conditions and against quality bowlers admittedly but, it was a display that has no place in the ultimate format of the game.
The pressure will be on Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mahmudullah and skipper Shakib Al Hasan after they were among the five batsmen to perish to Roach within 12 balls on day one of the first Test.
Early indications are that the WICB have specifically requested seam-friendly conditions and we expect a generous covering of grass at one of the quicker venues in the Caribbean – bad news for Bangladesh.
Verdict: West Indies 4/10
The fundamental technical flaws of the Bangladesh batsmen against pace will prove too large an obstacle to overcome in Jamaica and the hosts should ease to a series shutout.
