Pitch and weather: While the Queen’s Park Oval has not hosted a Test since 2018, fast bowlers have always enjoyed the conditions here, registering a much better average (27.39) and strike rate (61.0) as compared to spinners (36.57 and 88.7). Rain is forecast on all five days of the Test, though.
India vs West Indies 2nd Test Highlights 2023, Thursday 20-7. India tour of West Indies 2023, Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Kraigg Brathwaite: Shannon comes back, pitch has a bit of moisture which we want to use. Kirk McKenzie will debut, he replaces Raymon Reifer. We were decent bowling-wise, we need to continue being disciplined. We need to take the first game off our memories and play their quality bowlers well. Our rivalry has a come a long way, we haven’t won a match in a while. It was always a joy to watch Brian Lara and Sachin back in the day. Need to give the fans more memories.
Rohit Sharma: We were looking to bat first. Nice and sunny as well. Pitch will get slower as the match goes on, so okay with batting first. One change: Shardul has pulled up a niggle – a groin issue, it brings Mukesh on for a debut. Lots of memories from the rivalry, especially our batters trying to put their hands up against great fast bowlers. Even now you have to work hard to get a result, especially the batters. Scoring isn’t easy. We got a lot of positives and hope to get the right result.
Toss: West Indies chose to field.
India team: Rohit (capt), Yashasvi, Shubman, Virat, Rahane, Jadeja, Ishan (wk), Ashwin, Mukesh, Unadkat, Siraj.
West Indies team: Brathwaite (capt), Tagenarine, McKenzie, Blackwood, Athanaze, Holder, Cornwall, Joshua (wk), 9 Kemar Roach, Alzarri, Jomel.
Head to Head In Test’s: 99
India Won: 23
West Indies Won: 30
India Test Rankings: 1st
West Indies Test Rankings: 8th
Form guide
(last five completed Tests, most recent first)
India WLDLW
West Indies LLLWD
Match Timings: 2 PM GMT | 10 AM Local
Umpires – Marais Erasmus, Richard Kettleborough
TV Umpire – Michael Gough
Match Referee – Jeff Crowe
Reserve Umpire – Nigel Duguid
Match number – Test no. 2513
