Can Tigers' pacers match the Calypso beat?

Getting some extra bounce -- that's what Bangladesh pacers were seemingly after during their previous Test tour of the West Indies in 2022.

During that series, the likes of Shoriful Islam and Khaled Ahmed, who got his maiden Test fifer in the first match, followed that routine of trying to make the ball get higher up to the bat.

As another tour of the Caribbean beckons, there have been a few key reshuffling in the current squad for the two-Test series – which is part of the World Test Championship.

Length would be key, along with getting that extra zip off the seam as the Tigers aim to attack with more venom and pace prowess, starting with the first Test in Antigua from November 22. The second Test will be held at Jamaica's Sabina Park from November 30.

This time, there is no Khaled or Ebadot Hossain for the upcoming West Indies Tests. Shoriful, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Nahid Rana, the new bolt of energy in Bangladesh's pace battery, are the four quicks picked for this series.

Incidentally, the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua which hosted the first game of the previous series will be the one to welcome the Tigers this time around as well.

The venue offers help to batters only when they are able to weather the pacers' early threat -- a prospect that must excite someone like Nahid who usually hits the 150-kph markr and looked deadly in the final of the Tigers' three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE earlier this month.

In order to find momentum in the series, Bangladesh quicks need to make their presence felt from the first Test.

The fact that Bangladesh pacers have been able to make their presence felt in away conditions recently -- the pace trio of Taskin, Hasan, and Rana picked up all 10 wickets in the second innings of the second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in August-September -- would only make the Tigers hopeful about the upcoming series.

"I think there could be an ominous attack that can shake the Windies up, especially due to the pace Rana can bowl at. It's a great thing that every one of the bowlers is competing hard," a national team player said during a casual chat regarding pacers' performance in away conditions.

Bangladesh pacers, however, were not able to produce the desired results in their recent away tour to India and in the home Tests against South Africa. The last series against the Proteas saw pacers take a back seat as spin was favoured in home conditions.

"Pace bowling has improved but to get to [Jaspit] Bumrah or Stewart Broad's level, more hard work is needed.

"Pakistan were a big side and we beat them at their home. We just need a bit of consistency. There were big players like Babar Azam in that team, a world-class player. Obviously, we did well which is why we won," the cricketer mentioned.

Aside from looking for consistency, the current crop of pacers can also take inspiration from Khaled Ahmed's fifer in the last Windies Tests in order to seize the Caribbean calypso beat this time around.

Kemar Roach and Co had taken all 10 Bangladesh wickets in the first innings of that first innings in Antigua last time and it shows just how crucial the pacers would be in the upcoming series.