On a Saturday in Tarouba, Trinidad, two cricket sides that have both stumbled early in the current championship cycle meet for the first of two tests, a contest that also christens the Brian Lara Cricket Academy as the Caribbean's thirteenth test venue. West Indies, buoyed by a recent series win over Sri Lanka, opened by choosing to bat, while Pakistan, after a run of hard defeats, has turned once more to Babar Azam to steady its direction. Such moments often ask less of a team than of its patience, as each side tries to find in a new ground and a new order the footing that the standings have
West Indies Bat First Against Pakistan in Trinidad as Both Sides Sit at Foot of World Test Championship
Both sides sit at the bottom, one win apiece
Mark
Why does a series between two bottom-placed sides matter?
Mimi
Each has just one win this cycle, so any result moves them. West Indies come off beating Sri Lanka 1-0, while Pakistan have lost three straight.
Luke
Fair, but the report doesn't say how much a win here changes the standings. That's not in the source.
Mark
What's the Babar story?
Mimi
He's back as captain after Shan Masood lost 12 of 16 tests in charge. Babar made a century in the warm-up against a West Indies Select XI.
Luke
A warm-up century is a good sign, not proof. The report doesn't say how strong that opposition was.
Mark
The spinner choice seems notable.
Mimi
Ali Usman debuts as the only specialist spinner, picked over Sajid Khan, who has more experience.
Luke
We don't know why. The report gives no reasoning for the selection.
Mark
And the venue?
Mimi
The Brian Lara Cricket Academy hosts its first test, the Caribbean's 13th test venue.
Luke
Also unknown: how the pitch will play. The toss decision tells us Chase wanted to bat, not why.
Il Polso
- West Indies sent Pakistan a clear signal by choosing to bat first on a ground hosting its very first test.
- Pakistan arrives after three straight losses, without an away win since 2023, and both sides sit stranded at the foot of the table.
- Babar Azam returns as captain in place of Shan Masood, while Abdullah Fazal's back injury forces a rebuilt top order.
- Pakistan's selectors took a gamble on debutant spinner Ali Usman over the more experienced Sajid Khan, with three tests in England looming beyond this series.
On a Saturday in Tarouba, Trinidad, two cricket sides that have both stumbled early in the current championship cycle meet for the first of two tests, a contest that also christens the Brian Lara Cricket Academy as the Caribbean's thirteenth test venue. West Indies, buoyed by a recent series win over Sri Lanka, opened by choosing to bat, while Pakistan, after a run of hard defeats, has turned once more to Babar Azam to steady its direction. Such moments often ask less of a team than of its patience, as each side tries to find in a new ground and a new order the footing that the standings have so far withheld.
On Saturday at Tarouba in Trinidad, West Indies captain Roston Chase won the toss and chose to bat first against Pakistan in the opening test of a two-match series. It is the first test ever staged at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, which becomes the Caribbean's thirteenth test venue.
The two sides share an uncomfortable place in the standings, both bottom of the World Test Championship with a single win each. West Indies earned theirs by beating Sri Lanka 1-0 and arrives buoyant. Pakistan opened the cycle with a win over South Africa but then lost three tests in a row, and it has not won away since 2023.
Babar Azam is captain again, replacing Shan Masood, who lost 12 of 16 tests in charge. Babar warmed up with a century against a West Indies Select XI, as did opener Azan Awais, and fast bowler Mohammad Ali, back in the test side after nearly two years, took five wickets. The injury to Abdullah Fazal, who hurt his lower back, has forced changes, with Imam-ul-Haq returning to open alongside Awais. Pakistan also handed a debut to slow left-armer Ali Usman, the only specialist spinner, ahead of Sajid Khan.
West Indies chose three fast bowlers, Roach, Shamar Joseph and Seales, with Jomel Warrican as the spinner. Alzarri Joseph is not available. For Pakistan, the series is a prelude to three tests in England, where Fazal's absence will be keenly felt.
On Saturday at Tarouba, Trinidad, West Indies captain Roston Chase won the toss and chose to bat first against Pakistan in the opening test of a two-match series. The match is the first test ever played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, which becomes the 13th test venue in the Caribbean.
The two sides arrive in the same place in the standings. Both are at the bottom of the World Test Championship, each with a single win in the current cycle. West Indies got theirs by beating Sri Lanka 1-0, its first victory of this cycle, and the hosts start the series on that note.
Pakistan's path has been rougher. It opened the cycle with a win over South Africa last year, then lost three tests in a row. It has not won an away test since beating Sri Lanka in 2023, when Babar Azam was captain.
Babar is captain again. Pakistan removed the job from Shan Masood, who had lost 12 of 16 tests since taking over from Babar in late 2023. Masood remains in the side, listed in the line-up ahead of Babar. Babar prepared with a century against a West Indies Select XI in a practice game. Opener Azan Awais also made a hundred there, and fast bowler Mohammad Ali, back in the test side after almost two years, took five wickets.
Pakistan has had to reshuffle its top order. Opener Abdullah Fazal is out of this series and of the three tests in England to follow, after injuring his lower back on Thursday. Imam-ul-Haq, who missed the previous series against Bangladesh, returns to open alongside Awais.
Pakistan also gave a debut to slow left-armer Ali Usman, the lone specialist spinner in the XI. He was chosen over the more experienced Sajid Khan.
West Indies picked three fast bowlers: Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales. Alzarri Joseph made himself unavailable for the series. Jomel Warrican is the specialist spinner. The batting order is Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Amir Jangoo, Justin Greaves and Chase.
Pakistan's XI is Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Masood, Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Abbas. After this series, the side moves on to three tests in England, where Fazal's absence will be felt.
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Leggi l'originale su The Associated Press ↗
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