Third Test Preview: West Indies v India
The West Indies have never lost a Test match at the Darren Sammy National Stadium, formerly known as the Beausejour Stadium, recording one win and three draws at the venue.
The host team put in a drastically improved second innings performance at Sabina Park to force a draw in the second Test, but will need to show they can compete with bat and ball when they face India in St Lucia.
Only rain and Roston Chase's maiden Test hundred saved the West Indies from a massive defeat in Jamaica and mindful of a misfiring batting lineup they have dropped opening batsman Rajendra Chandrika and called up 22-year-old Shai Hope who averages just 15.54 after six Tests.
The hosts will have to decide whether to persist with Miguel Cummins, who bowled 26.4 overs without reward in Jamaica, or to hand a cap to young quick Alzarri Joseph.
India are chasing a series clinching win and the number one spot in the ICC's Test Championship. The visitor's face a selection conundrum as Murali Vijay is fit again but his stand-in for the second Test, KL Rahul scored 158 in Jamaica.
The visitor's will start as strong favourites but will need to show more killer instinct than they did in Jamaica.
We expect a typical modern Caribbean wicket, which is to say slow and eventually assisting the spinners which could be bad news for the hosts although they will be buoyed by the performance of spinning allrounder Chase in the last Test.
Key Players
Opener Kraigg Brathwaite will be key for the West Indies, he will have a mentoring job to do as well with young Shai Hope expected to make the staring XI. Marlon Samuels needs to stand up and be counted as the West Indies senior batsman although the performance's of Jermaine Blackwood and Chase at Sabina Park have lended a more stable look to the hosts middle order.
In the bowling department Devendra Bishoo will have a big job to do on a slow wicket while Shannon Gabriel will spearhead the pace attack.
For India it should be business as usual, their batting lineup is strong enough to allow them to select an extra bowler with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane forming a strong spine.
Mohammed Shami has been impressive on his return to Test cricket bowling well up front while Ravi Ashwin is ranked second only to Jimmy Anderson in the Test bowler's rankings.
Last Five Head-To-Head Results
2016 Second Test: Drawn
2016 First Test: India won by an innings and 92 runs
2013 Second Test: India won by an innings and 126 runs
2013 First Test: India won by an innings and 51 runs
2011 Third Test: Drawn
Squads
West Indies: Jason Holder (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich (wk), Carlos Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Shannon Gabriel, Leon Johnson, Miguel Cummins, Alzarri Joseph
India: Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravi Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Sardul Thakur, Murali Vijay, Umesh Yadav
Details
August 9-13
Morning session: 10:00-12:00 (14:00-16:00GMT)
Afternoon session: 12:40-14:40 (16:40-18:40)
Evening session: 15:00-17:00 (19:00-21:00)
Umpires: Nigel Llong and Rod Tucker
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle
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