West Indies win toss and bat first in Sylhet Test
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Chase wins toss and bats first
SYLHET: West Indies captain Roston Chase won the toss and elected to bat first in the second and final Test against Bangladesh at Sylhet. The visitors currently hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series after winning the opening Test by eight wickets in Dhaka and can take the series here. Bangladesh need to win to keep the series alive.
Both sides have had big changes due to injuries and illness.
Background
The West Indies got off to a strong start, winning the opening Test comfortably by eight wickets. This put pressure on Bangladesh to perform in front of their home crowd.
However, both sides have struggled to get going:
- West Indies: A viral fever meant that their regular openers John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul were unable to play, leaving a shortage of options in the top order.
- Bangladesh: They had to make two changes to their batting line-up and bowling attack.
Key Changes at a Glance
| Team | In | Out | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | Kevin Wickham (debut, No. 3) | Opening pair: Campbell and Chanderpaul | Viral fever |
| West Indies | Joshua Da Silva (opens) | n/a | Returns after missing the Sri Lanka Test and the Dhaka Test |
| West Indies | Amir Jangoo (wicketkeeper) | n/a | Takes the gloves from Da Silva |
| Bangladesh | Mushfiqur Rahim | Mominul Haque | Mominul has a head injury; Mushfiqur has recovered from a finger injury |
| Bangladesh | Taskin Ahmed | Shoriful Islam | Pace attack reshuffle |
Focus on the man making his debut
Kevin Wickham makes his Test debut in the number three position. His first-class career suggests that he is more than capable of stepping up a level.
Stats
- Matches: 25
- Runs: 1,472
- Average: 40.88
- Centuries: 6
- Top Score: 153
XIs
- Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud.
- West Indies: Joshua Da Silva, Brandon King, Kevin Wickham, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo (w), Roston Chase (c), Justin Greaves, Joshua Bishop, Shamar Joseph, Jomel Warrican, Jayden Seales.
Tactical Insight: Why This Match Matters
- Da Silva will be opening the innings, which is a huge gamble for him as he has never batted above 5 in Test cricket.
- Bangladesh will look to target the new ball with a debutant in the 3rd position and an untested opener.
- The hosts will be boosted by the return of Mushfiqur Rahim, providing stability to the lower order.
- This is the West Indies final red-ball game of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle, meaning they can add valuable points to their total. Bangladesh still has games to play; they go on tour to South Africa and have a home series to play against England. A win for them would put them in a good position.
What’s Next
- West Indies: If West Indies win this game, it means they have drawn their campaign in this World Test Championship cycle. If they win, they also take the series 2-0.
- Bangladesh: If Bangladesh win this game, they will draw the series. They will now go on tour to South Africa.
FAQ
Who won the toss?
West Indies skipper Roston Chase won the toss and chose to bat first.
What is the series score?
West Indies are 1-0 up after winning the first Test in Dhaka by eight wickets.
Who is playing his Test debut?
Kevin Wickham, a 23-year-old batter playing for Barbados, is playing his debut at number three.
Why are Campbell and Chanderpaul absent?
Both openers are absent with viral fever.
Who will kick the West Indies’ opening position?
Joshua Da Silva, who has never batted above number five in Tests.
Who is the West Indies keeper?
Amir Jangoo.
What changes has Bangladesh made?
They have brought Mushfiqur Rahim in to replace the injured Mominul Haque, and Taskin Ahmed in place of Shoriful Islam.
Why is this an important match in the World Test Championship?
It is the last red-ball game for the West Indies in 2025-2027. Bangladesh still has games to play, including a tour of South Africa and a home series against England.
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