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Touch of green at Antigua
A confident India, with a new coach at the helm, will seek to record a third consecutive Test series triumph on the Caribbean soil when the Virat Kohli-led side clashes with an inexperienced West Indies in the first cricket match, here from Thursday.
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Antigua
The Test will herald a new chapter in Indian cricket history as the team will take the field for the first time under new coach Anil Kumble’s guidance.Â
More than three weeks have passed since the legendary leg-spinner assumed charge of the squad. Over this period, he has led the team through a preparatory camp and overseen two practice matches in St Kitts last week.
He has introduced a new bonding spirit in the dressing room, and lifted morale through numerous group activities, thus ensuring a seamless transition from Ravi Shastri's tenure as team director.Â
As such the focus now completely shifts to the field, where the Indian players will try to put in action the plans laid out by their new coach. In doing so, skipper Virat Kohli will aim to complete a hat trick of Test series wins in the Caribbean, after Rahul Dravid and MS Dhoni led their sides to victory in 2007 and 2011, respectively. Also, Kohli will be hoping to win a third successive Test series, after beating Sri Lanka 2-1 away and South Africa 3-0 at home, both last year.Â
It will be easier said than done though. For, the slow pitches in the West Indies will test his teams resolve. The wickets laid out in St Kitts for the two practice matches had good bounce, but slow turn for the spinners and very little by way of movement for the pacers.Â
It is expected to be a continuing trend though the four-Test series, although the pitch for this first Test seemed to throw up a surprise.Â
With two days to go, there were a green sprinkling of grass on the surface. It seemed nothing more than patches left to hold the pitch together for five days, and yet it could alter the Indian think-tank s plans regarding the first-choice eleven. While 13 players had participated in each of the two tour matches, the composition used in both games indicated a five-bowler approach for the Tests.
HIGHLIGHTS
- India have won the last five Tests series between the two teams – three in India and two in West Indies.
- West Indies haven’t won a single Test against India, home or away since 2002, when they pulled off a stunning series win against the visitors. In all, 21 Test series have been played between the two teams.
- India’s winning streak of five series equals the longest. West Indies had won the first five series played between the two teams from 1948 to 1966.
- West Indies have not won a Test match against India in 14 years and have lost eight of their last 15 encounters and drawn seven.
- The first Test against India begins on July 21 in Antigua, followed by Tests in Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.Â
- India lost 12 Tests before winning their first Test in 1971. If India win the present series, it will be the longest streak of series wins for one team. Overall, West Indies have won 12 series, India 7 and two have been drawn.
Live NextÂ
West Indies vs India @ 7.30 pm on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 3, HD
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