PTI
Kingston (Jamaica), July 29: Bolstered by the comprehensive win in the series opener, an upbeat India will look to assert their supremacy over an inexperienced West Indies with yet another commanding show in the second Test, starting here, Saturday.
India will look to continue in the same vein in the tour, which is Anil Kumble’s debut series as chief coach of the team after recording India’s biggest win outside the sub-continent when they thrashed the hosts by an innings and 92 runs in the first Test.
But it would be easier said than done as a green pitch awaits the visitors at Sabina Parka, a stark contrast to the conditions on offer in Antigua, where the visitors had won the match in four days.
Going by past records, it was way back in 2008 when a Test lasted five days at Sabina Park. Since then, five Tests have taken place here and all of them have finished within four days.
While India will find comfort in a settled line-up, there are some obvious points to ponder over like fitness of opener Murali Vijay. The opener has been missing action since being hit on his thumb by Shannon Gabriel on the first morning of the series, and didn’t field in the entire game.
The other issue is about the team combination and whether skipper Virat Kohli will opt for a five-bowler attack once again.
At the same time, Kohli also has to think about his bowlers’ workload in what will prove to be a long season. Playing a full-time batsman will mean added overs for his three pacers and one less bowler to choose from. And so it could tempt him to go in with Binny instead, who provides him a medium pace option as well as adds to the lower middle-order.
Either way, Amit Mishra is expected to sit out in Jamaica as his spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin’s shone bright in the first Test with his all-round performance as he followed up his 113-run knock with a match-winning 7/83 spell in the second innings to set up the huge win.
On a green pitch, the visitors’ three pacers Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami will once again prove to be more than a handful for West Indies batsmen.
On the other hand, the Caribbeans will be thinking about boosting their bowling attack and the inclusion of 19-year-old rookie pacer Alzarri Joseph comes as a welcome move.
Among the West Indies batsmen, Marlon Samuels will be in the spotlight as since the end of the first Test, rumour has been swirling about his future with some suggesting that the 35-year-old could be playing his last Test series.
