India looks positive ahead of second test in Sabina Park

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KL Rahul (seated in right) is all set to open the innings for India at Sabina Park. Image Source: Xtra Time

Debasis Sen,Kingston(Jamaica): Indian team led by Virat Kohli looks confident ahead of the second test match which gets underway at the historic Sabina Park from Saturday. Buyoed by the comprehensive win in the series opener in Antigua, an upbeat Indian team will look to go 2-0 ahead in the series. The last time the two teams were involved in a test match here at the Sabina Park in 2011, MS Dhoni and his men outclassed their opponents by 63 runs.

The conditions will be much more different though in Jamaica from the one in Antigua. A green pitch awaits the visitors, a stark contrast to the conditions on offer in Antigua where the match ended in four days. The curator of Sabina Park, Michael Hylton asserted that the wicket will have a lot to offer for the quicks as a lot of grass is left. According to Hylton, “The wicket will have a lot more bounce and pace , something that was associated with the Sabina Park pitch. The pacers will enjoy bowling with the red cherry on this wicket.”

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Virat Kohli relaxing after the practice session at Sabina Park. Image Source: Xtra Time

Going by past records, it was way back in 2008 when a Test lasted five days at Sabina Park which Australia won by 98 runs. Since then, five Tests have taken place here and all of them have finished within four days, including India’s 63-run win in 2011.

West Indies’ last Test here was against Australia in the summer of 2015, and that match finished past lunch on the fourth day.
Kohli-Kumble partnership have made a great start to the long season ahead where India will be playing a total 17 test matches. The men in blue will look to go in with the same approach as in Antigua when they thrashed the hosts by an innings and 92 runs in the opening test.

The big win in Antigua doesn’t mean India will be complacent going into the second Test. The big difference in conditions on offer will obviously hinder any such thoughts, as will the fact that there are still three more Tests to go on this tour and their job has only just begun.

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Ravichandran Ashwin will have a huge role to play at Sabina Park. Image Source: Xtra Time

While India will find comfort in a settled line-up, there are some obvious points to ponder over like fitness of opener Murali Vijay. He picked an injury while batting in the Antigua test. The team management will take a call only after watching him at the practice today. In case he is ruled out, then KL Rahul will open the innings with Shikhar Dhawan. Rahul was seen having a long session with Anil Kumble at the optional training session yesterday.

Going by the conditions, India might opt to play in an extra medium pacer. In that case Amit Mishra will have to make way for someone like Stuart Binny or Bhuvneshwar Kumar. But the hot and humid conditions here might also influence the think tank to go in with the same attack. In that case Mishra will join Ashwin in the spin bowling department. The batting looked quite settled but the real challenge will be the testing conditions that will be on offer.

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Shikhar Dhawan waiting for his turn to bat at the nets. Image Source: Xtra Time

West Indies on the other hand have got nothing to lose as they might go in with a four prong pace attack with 19 year old Alzarri Joseph all set to make his debut. The likes of Jason Holder, Shanon Gabriel and Carlos Brathwaite will make the pace attack for the hosts. The batting though looks a lot more inexperienced with only Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo in the ranks. The inexperienced batting line up will face a stiff challenge from the Indian pacers who are on a role.

The toss might also play an important factor as the early juice and moisture on the wicket might influence the captains to bowl first. While it is tough to say which team will be happier to see the green pitch, the hosts will surely feel that the equation will perhaps be more balanced.