Sports Desk:
West Indies head coach Andre Coley said on Thursday that they want to end the year on a high note as they prepare to take on Bangladesh in the two-match, scheduled at Antigua from 22 November.
Both games will be a part of the World Test Championship.
Currently, Bangladesh and West Indies are 8th and 9th on the WTC standings respectively, with a point percentage of 27.50 and 18.52.
West Indies began the year on a fine note as they drew a two-match Test series against Australia but followed that with three successive losses to England. West Indies came up with an improved performance against South Africa as they had drawn the opening Test while lost the second Test by 40 runs, which according to Coley is a big disappointment.
“Very important (end the year on a winning note) because coming out of it disappointment all around the South Africa series,” Coley said ahead of the series opener against Bangladesh.
“Previously the first three or four days were hampered by rain and we have since been able to have a couple of good sessions on the ground here in Antigua and everybody is in good spirit and everybody is fit and available,” he said.
“It’s very important for us to come out with a winning result on home soil before we head off to Australia (Pakistan) and as you say this is the final four Test matches in this edition of the World Test Championship it is very important for us to do well here win the series and get a momentum heading into Pakistan,” he said as they will complete the current cycle of ICC Test Championship with the two-match Test series against Pakistan at their own back yard.
West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who was rested for the series against South Africa to manage his workload, returns for the two-Test series against Bangladesh at home.
However, host will miss the service of all-rounder Jason Holder will miss the series as he continues his shoulder rehabilitation.
“Each player have an opportunity we have players here who have played against Bangladesh home and away and was successful and won those series you know players are familiar with each other and we also have some new players who not have played any of those series. It’s an opportunity for senior players and emerging players you know to show we are capable of as a team and we continue to build and put everything together on the back of last year and year and half and as you said look to close on the year in really good form,” he said, adding that every series against Bangladesh is challenging.