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WI vs BAN 2024/25, WI vs BAN 2nd Test Match Preview

November 29, 2024

Overview: Contest between two fast-paced attacks

Sabina Park will host its first test in more than three years, but it is the hosts’ favorite venue and they play there regularly in one format or another. Which gives them a great chance to put together another strong performance to repay Bangladesh with a 2-0 defeat. If it happens, it will be West Indies’ first Test series sweep since July 2022, and Bangladesh were also the opponents.

Given how fragile their batting has been of late, the West Indies will be particularly pleased with the way they batted in the first innings of the North Sound Test. They had two great partnerships (140 runs, each time), the first involving Alick Athanaze and Mikyle Louis, who came out in the 90s. Even though they missed their maiden Test centuries, they batted responsibly and showed discipline. The same was true for Justin Greaves, who reached his first Test century. What was also encouraging was the way Kemar Roach supported Greaves in his fight for the eighth wicket.

West Indies also bowled with discipline, the four-man pace attack not giving Bangladesh that rare moment when scoring runs becomes easy. Jayden Seales is the leader of the attack. Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph bowl in fiery bursts. Roach relies on his wealth of experience, and years of dominance over Bangladesh helps.

The pace of bowling was also Bangladesh’s only positive in the first Test. And it may well be the only thing they can count on in the second test.

Taskin Ahmed led the way with eight wickets in the match, including a six in the second innings, where West Indies scored 152 in 46.1 overs. It was Taskin’s first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The performance, along with the consistency of Hasan Mahmud and Shoriful Islam, kept Bangladesh in the test. In Jamaica, Nahid Rana also got a look, which made the attack much more potent.

But what about Bangladesh’s batting? It has been one collapse after another, wherever they have played, for a while now – the main reason they have lost their last five Tests after the big 2-0 win in Pakistan. They showed some patience in their first innings at North Sound, which lasted 98 overs: Jaker Ali and Mominul Haque scored fifties, while Litton Das made 40. Apart from that, the group had little else to offer except a bit of fight . by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker in the second innings.

One thing both teams need to improve is their receiving. There were many missed catches throughout the game. Mominul lost two in a short span before West Indies lost four during Shamar’s first period on the fourth day. It was a stain on an otherwise good game.

forms guide

West Indies WLDLL (last five tests completed, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLLLL
Both the West Indies and Bangladesh are out of the race for a place in the World Test Championship final.

In the spotlight: Justin Greaves and Jaker Ali

took Justin Greaves Ten years to become a Test cricketer since his first-class debut, but after the debut series in Australia earlier this year, he was dropped. It then took him another ten months to return to the Test side, but this time he made it worth it. He showed restraint and initiative, especially when batting with Roach at the end of the script. The West Indies will be hoping for a similar performance from Greaves’ bat in Jamaica.

Jaker Ali He showed character under pressure, unlike most of his peers. Jaker now has a fifty in his first two Tests, which is rare for a Bangladesh batsman. He is a fighter and constantly encourages his batting partners, especially the lower order batsmen. Jaker himself is slowly opening up as a batsman and can expect a bit more responsibility in the Bangladesh batting line-up in Jamaica.

Team News: Expect changes in Bangladesh XI

West Indies are unlikely to change their playing XI, barring injuries.

West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), 2 Mikyle Louis, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Alick Athanaze, 5 Kavem Hodge, 6 Justin Greaves, 7 Joshua Da Silva (wk), 8 Kemar Roach, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Jayden Seales, 11 Shamar José

One or both of Shadman Islam and Mahidul Islam could expect a call-up for the second Test after Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Zakir Hasan failed in the first. Nahid could also feature as Bangladesh tend to rotate their fast bowlers.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Mahmudul Hasan Joy/Shadman Islam, 2 Zakir Hasan/Mahidul Islam, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Shahadat Hossain, 5 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Jaker Ali, 8 Taijul Islam, 9 Hasan Mahmud , 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Shoriful Islam/Nahid Rana

Field and conditions

Sabina Park has scored big in T20Is this year, but has also traditionally been a good pitch for both fast bowlers and spinners in Tests. The weather, however, could play a role as rain is forecast for all five days in Kingston.

Stats and trivia: Brathwaite ready to overtake Sobers

Kraigg Brathwaite is currently tied with Garfield Sobers on 85 Tests, the most consecutive appearances for the West Indies. The Sobers played non-stop from 1955 to 1972, while Brathwaite has been a West Indies constant since 2014.
Bangladesh have so far played 18 Tests without drawing even one. Their previous record is 21, between 2001 and 2004.
At North Sound, Mominul made his first West Indies half-century since 2014. He totaled just 20 runs in three matches in the two Test series there in 2018 and 2022.
The last time the West Indies played a Test match in Jamaica, in 2021, Phil Simmons was their head coach. He is now the head coach of Bangladesh.

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo correspondent in Bangladesh. @isam84

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