The wisdom of scheduling the two match Test series against Bangladesh during an ICC approved window in the international schedule must be seriously questioned.
Test cricket in the Caribbean has struggled for an audience for a number of years now, and the attraction of the lowly ranked Bangladesh side, that has already shown a number of inadequacies during the limited overs section of the tour, coupled with the impending CLT20 in India, has further diluted the attraction of the two fixtures.
Typical of the situation facing the West Indies selectors ahead of the first Test at the Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent’s, was the consideration of mystery spinner Sunil Narine and allrounder Andre Russell for the squad. However, both players opted to represent their IPL franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders in the CLT20 instead.
Amazingly for two such talented players, when the West Indies is now blessed with an abundance of such talent, Narine has played only six Tests for West Indies, while Russell has only a single appearance, against Sri Lanka in 2010.
The second Test begins on the same day as the qualifying round of the Champions League, and quite apart from the Barbados Tridents squad that will be in India, seven other West Indies players will be appearing for IPL franchises; Narine, Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Smith and Samuel Badree.
The new WICB selection panel, led by the legendary Clive Lloyd have selected a 13-man squad, with just one change from that which was chosen against New Zealand last time out, with reserve batsman Leon Johnson being dropped.
Bangladesh have replaced their left arm spinner Elias Sunny with Sohag Gazi for the two match series. Gazi was forced to return home to complete documents to apply for a UK visa, as he is required to be at the Cardiff Metropolitan University by September 19 to have his bowling action tested.
Sunny played the last of his four Tests against Sri Lanka in 2013, and until Gazi took 6 for 74 against the West Indies last year, he had held the record for the best figures by a Bangladesh spinner on Test debut, when he took 6 for 94 in 2011.