Batting concerns dominate as Tigers tackle Windies

Bangladesh take on the West Indies in the first Test in Antigua today, hoping their slightly inexperienced batting line-up can weather the pace storm. Antigua has a strong recent record of making Bangladesh batters suffer.

In 2018, the Tigers were bowled out for their lowest-ever Test total at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. This time, without the assuredness provided by their three top-calibre batters in Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, the team management would be hoping the batting line-up holds up.

Bangladesh have played five Test series in West Indies to date, and the 2009 tour was the high point of their Windies trials so far, when they clinched the series 2–0. The two most recent Test series in Windies -- in 2018 and 2022 -- were swept 2–0 by the hosts.

Bangladesh are coming off the back of dismal Test series losses against India and South Africa, where even the presence of the more experienced batters did not help their cause. In this ICC World Test Championship, Bangladesh languish at eighth with three wins in 10 Tests, unable to carve out a draw this cycle.

Top-order batting issues have rarely seen Bangladesh batters survive an onslaught after the opposition has gotten a sniff. Thus, a big test of will and skill awaits the new recruits -- the likes of Shahadat Hossain Dipu or a Jaker Ali in the upcoming Tests.

Psychologically, it would be a relief to have their full-strength pace-bowling line-up for the upcoming Tests, and the emergence of speedsters such as Nahid Rana or Hasan Mahmud gives the Tigers something to look forward to in terms of showcasing pace prowess.

The Windies pace attack, with Kemar Roach back in the fold and quicks such as Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales, would look to give an apt response to Bangladesh's pace.

Both teams are coming off the back of red-ball series losses to South Africa. The Windies batting has some new faces, and one win and five losses this year show they need their batting to fire.

"It's very important. Coming off of the disappointment of the South Africa series, where we really put ourselves in a position to close out that series, we didn't, and we now have this opportunity against Bangladesh," Windies head coach Andre Coley said ahead of the first Test.

"It's very important for us to come out with a winning result on home soil before we head off to (Pakistan)," Coley had remarked, underlining the confidence the hosts want to project in the Tests coming up.

Highlights 

*In 20 encounters, Bangladesh have four Test wins against the West Indies' 14, with two matches ending in a draw.

*The Tigers won two away from home – a 2-0 sweep in 2009 -and clinched as many at home.

*It has been a constant slump for Bangladesh in the Caribbeans since the 2009 triumph as they lost six matches across three separate visits. Those were hammering defeats as it included two 10-wicket losses, as many thrashings by 200-plus runs, and an innings defeat. In 2018, the Tigers were bundled out for 43 – their lowest-ever total in the format.

*Nine members of the Bangladesh squad haven't played in the West Indies.

*No Bangladesh batter has struck a century in the West Indies since Mushfiqur Rahim's 116 in Kingstown in 2014. Mushfiqur, however, is unavailable for the series due to injury.