Sports
Preview of West Indies vs England – Test Series Jan 23rd to 27th 2019
BY: KAYLA KARIM
West Indies look to upset visiting England
The England Tour of the West Indies begins on January 23rd at Kensington Oval in Barbados. Some old and new faces will be participating in this Test Series, including familiar face, Darren Bravo.
Darren Bravo is set to play his first Test in over two years. The last time Bravo participated in a Test cricket match was in the tour of UAE in October of 2016. Bravo has 3,400 runs at 40.00 in 49 Test appearances, adding veteran experiences to the team’s batting line up. West Indies will benefit from this much-needed talent after struggling in their tour of Bangladesh, losing 2-0 with an innings defeat in the second Test.
West Indies have dropped Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Jahmar Hamilton, Sherman Lewis, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell and Raymon Reifer from the squad following both Test losses against Bangladesh.
A couple of other players could be making their debut for 2019 as well. Twenty-six-year-old John Campbell, a left handed opener from Jamaica and Shamarh Brooks, a 30 year old Bajan – captain of the West Indies Under -19 team at the 2008 World Cup.
Courtney Brown, West Indies’ chairman of selectors spoke to the media about additions to the team.
“With the return of Darren Bravo, who will add value to a batting department, we expect to see marked improvement”.
“Young, exciting, fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who was sidelined by injury, returns to the squad and Shamarh Brooks has been elevated for his solid first-class performances over the last three years”.
Brown also mentioned how the team is hoping to bounce back from the loss against Bangladesh.
“After a difficult Test Series in Bangladesh late last year the opportunity presents itself for our team to pick itself up. Although a tough series against England is anticipated, home turf has always been a place where our team has made strides.”
West Indies home record against England shows that the hosts take advantage and play well on their home pitch. After losing the Wisden Trophy for the first time in 36 years back in 2004, the West Indies have not lost a series against England at home since.
However, England who are ranked number three in the world, are expecting to have several thousand supporters in the Caribbean over the next few weeks.
Former West Indies’ coach Stuart Law said that the home team should not be underestimated due to their core group of veteran players who have the skills and talent to perform well.
“The best thing about this series is England is going in as red-hot favourites, going in as an underdog you’ve got nothing to lose. The Caribbean crowd will tell the Caribbean team they are not supposed to win. They (the West Indies team) like proving people wrong as well. It should be reasonably comfortable for England on paper but out on the ground, there are a few guys there with a point to prove and opportunities to cement a place for a long time in the West Indies set-up, so I wouldn’t discount them.” Stated Law who coached the team the last time these teams met in 2017.
The tour will be three Tests ending on January 27th 2019.
Familiar Face Shivnarine Chanderpaul Returns to Guyanese Team. A familiar face for the West Indies and Guyana Jaguars is back.
Former West Indies batsman, Shivnarine “Tiger” Chanderpaul is set to re-join the Guyanese team as an interim Assistant Coach for the remainder of the Cricket West Indies regional four-day championships. The Jaguars made the front staff move ahead of the match at Guyana National Stadium against second place Leeward Island Hurricanes. In addition to Chanderpaul, assistant coach Rayon Griffith was promoted to the post of head coach.