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Karunaratne urges positivity over survival

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Seeing out Graeme Cremer and staying positive will reverse a little pressure and bring a mammoth 388 target within reach, according to Dimuth Karunaratne. The opener made 49 to help set the tone for the innings.Zimbabwe claimed his wicket and two others with balls that took substantial turn. The delivery that dismissed Karunaratne spun more than any other in the match, hitting the fast bowlers’ footmarks and darting alarmingly into his offstump. Kusal Mendis, who had also been positive at the crease, and Angelo Mathews, are the overnight pair.”I do think we can make it,” Karunaratne said. “We have already scored 170 for three wickets and we need only 218 more. We’ve also batted out the period when he ball is hard and does a little bit more. All Zimbabwe have now is the support from that rough.”Angie and Kusal are set now. If those two guys keep on batting for an hour or more tomorrow morning, they can get set again. If that happens, I don’t think it’s easy to get them out unless we do something silly.”Mendis, whose 60 has come off 85 deliveries, was busy at the crease, and used his powerful flat sweep shot to good effect. Mathews has already used the reverse-sweep himself, during his 33-ball 17. Both those options may be key to manipulating the field.”They’re bowling on the leg side with more fielders. So we need to have a plan to change that field may be playing a reverse sweep,” he said. “If we do that, we will be able to put some runs on the board quickly.”If we just to survive, we’re losing the opportunity to win the match. We need to be positive. When another 60 to 70 runs are scored, I think they will spread out the field. Then we can get the single and have a chance. We have to put them under pressure.”Cremer, who had claimed a five-wicket haul in the first innings, appears the key figure in the opposition attack. He has already bowled 58.3 overs in the match, however, and Sri Lanka may have hopes of tiring him out, as they had once done with Yasir Shah, in Pallekele. Sean Williams was the other wicket-taker on Monday.”Cremer is bowling in good areas and turning it well. As a wrist spinner, he gets a lot out of the surface. What Sean doing is that he pegs the batsman down and forces him to commit a mistake against Cremer. Other than those two, I don’t think there will be a huge threat. The reality is that those two cannot keep bowling right throughout the day.”

Warner warns against too-hard approach

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As much as Australia’s bowlers were panned by Steven Smith for their looseness in the opening match against New Zealand that was ultimately wrecked by rain, the vice-captain David Warner admits the top order batsmen were similarly out of rhythm in the early overs of a curtailed chase.The early English summer will not always suit an Australian side heavy on pace and power but not always so adept at nuance, something demonstrated by how Warner, Aaron Finch and Moises Henriques made early exits in the face of diligent New Zealand bowling before showers enveloped Edgbaston.Ahead of a match against Bangladesh that Steven Smith’s men must now win to avoid early elimination, Warner said the batsmen needed to strike a better balance than the one seen in his wild swish at a wide ball. Finch and Henriques then mistimed catches in front of the wicket.”There were, I think, a few rushed overs there especially in the first 10 [overs]. We probably didn’t allow ourselves to actually pick off the ones and twos and play normal cricket shots,” Warner said. “We tried to heave it a bit too much and wait for the bad ball too much I think. And as we know with New Zealand how they are, they are very disciplined in their line and length. They made us play a different kind of way to how we usually play. And from my stance, me and Finchy, I think we were a little bit disappointing.”Warner said he and Finch had walked out to bat with a very aggressive mind-set, something that was then exploited by the discipline of New Zaland’s attack. The bowlers of other nations, most particularly Bangladesh and England, will have taken note.”Initially that was what me and Finchy were talking about, making the most of that seven overs [in a rain-shortened chase],” Warner said. “After the first two overs we knew it was going to be a little bit difficult.”We just knew that if you hit the right length on that wicket, the wicket would do its course. It would hold up a fraction. They bowled with a wobbly seam, we tried to swing the ball, when it didn’t swing we went straight to cross seam. On the flip side of that, when you are facing a wobbly seam it can do something.”But they just hit their right lengths and made us play the shots. So, credit to them. And we tried to hit the ball too hard. I tried to move around the crease a little bit but found myself in some situations probably trying to muscle the ball a little bit too much, and Finchy said that as well.”The early wickets brought Henriques to the crease at No. 4, ostensibly in place of the injured Mitchell Marsh, but ahead of not only Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head but also the unselected Chris Lynn and Marcus Stoinis. Warner pointed to Henriques’ strong recent IPL displays as evidence he deserved the chance.”Obviously Steve had the thought process that Mo has been batting well enough to bat in that role. I look at his IPL, and I played with him, he was hitting the ball unbelievably,” Warner said. “To give him credit, the last 12 to 18 months his technique has gotten very good and he’s had the capability and strong performances on the board for New South Wales to warrant that selection.”His one-day numbers have been fantastic in the Matador. He’s used to playing on wickets coming in when it is swinging. And credit to him, he’s been able to do that and lock that down for New South Wales, and he’s been given that opportunity by the selectors here and Steve to play at number four for us.”I think you saw a couple of those pull shots he played, he’s been working on that for a while as well. And his all-round game is fantastic at the moment so hopefully, he can keep continuing his success and hopefully not too many inside edges onto the pad.”

Parnell passed fit for Kent after heart scare

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Wayne Parnell has been included in Kent’s squad for Friday’s Royal London match against Sussex despite a health scare earlier this week.Parnell, the South African seamer who is with the club on a short-term stint as an overseas player, left the pitch feeling unwell after bowling four overs during Tuesday’s match against Somerset. He reported an elevated heart rate and feeling light-headed.While he was keen to return to the action after a few minutes, the club’s medical team insisted he sit out the remainder of the game as a precaution. Parnell was hospitalised in 2013 after complaining of similar symptoms while playing for South Africa A against India A. Subsequent tests revealed no long-term problem, with the issue instead put down to a virus.He did not go to hospital on Tuesday and instead travelled back to Kent on the team bus at the end of the game.He saw a doctor on Wednesday and underwent a series of basic tests. The club insist that some reports of his condition have been “greatly exaggerated” and suggested that they would not have named him in the squad for Friday’s game if there was any risk to his welfare.Cricket South Africa have been kept fully informed of Parnell’s condition and condoned his return to action.It is not certain he will play on Friday, though. He will undergo a fitness test ahead of the game before any final decision is made.

New Zealand take strides towards levelling series

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Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:46

Can New Zealand end successful home summer on a high?

New Zealand’s home season had gone a little something like this: reclaimed their beloved Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, conceded a total of 595 only to win the Test and set a world record, spirited nine wickets in the final session on the final day to seal a whitewash. They had about as much to prove as ice does of being icy.Then came the great Wellington collapse, which led BJ Watling to say, “I don’t think we will judge our season on that last game. But we might on this one.” If so, going into their last day of 2016-17, five wickets away from securing their first win over South Africa in a decade, should get a Colin de Grandhomme-sized thumbs up.The 30-year old allrounder was at the centre of New Zealand’s dominance after all, making his first half-century, and topping that up with the wicket of Dean Elgar – who in an ideal world would be the brand ambassador of Velcro. “Stick things together as tight as I stick to the crease”. An early wicket was the last thing South Africa needed after spending 162.1 overs in the field. Not since June 2010 have they had to flog themselves so badly.The fatigue was apparent in the dismissals of two of their most important players. Hashim Amla kept poking at deliveries wide outside the off stump. But his feet weren’t moving at the usual lightning speed. The bat wasn’t coming down with the same rapier-like flourish. One of the most mentally strong cricketers in the world played one of the doziest shots as he cut Jeetan Patel tamely into to the hands of slip. Four overs later, the offspinner had JP Duminy bowled while shouldering arms and South Africa were 50 for 4 – and 125 runs behind. It began looking like ten times that number when Matt Henry had Temba Bavuma caught behind off the second ball of his second spell.Faf du Plessis – the majority shareholder of Blockathon Inc. – and Quinton de Kock – suspected Gilchrist clone – were the survivors of a day South Africa would only want to remember they summon their superpower to draw Tests out of nowhere.It is going to be difficult though. The pitch has begun to take sharp turn. There were footmarks outside both the right-hander and the left-hander’s off stumps. And though it was the fourth day, there was still seam movement for the fast bowlers. Challenges that players at the peak of their ability would find difficult, let alone a set who had just spent the equivalent of two full days chasing leather.It is at a time like this that you don’t want silly dismissals. It is at a time like this that irony cannot resist butting in. And South Africa lost their other opener Theunis de Bruyn – a man who has played the majority of his professional career as a middle order batsman – to a run-out borne of a ghastly misunderstanding.It was the 12th over and Amla defended the ball to mid-off solidly. But the minute he did so, he began haring down the pitch, not noticing that his partner had already turned his back. By the time de Bruyn cottoned on to what was happening, he was wrapped up in a collision with Amla. There was nothing he could do but stand in the middle of the pitch and stare helplessly as Kane Williamson’s throw was gathered at the wicketkeeper’s end and the stumps were broken.The final session, when New Zealand simply ran amok, was set up by the first two, when New Zealand could be best described as glacial.They began with 76 runs in 206 deliveries. The plan clearly was to keep wickets in hand so they could kick on after lunch. Half an hour to the break though, their key man, Williamson, was bounced out by Morne Morkel after making 176. And off the last ball of the session, they lost Mitchell Santner for 41 off 151 balls.South Africa would have been pleased with their morning’s work. Their bowlers – despite the miles in their legs – were still able to keep tight lines and lengths. Santner’s presence at the crease – and his propensity to be unsettled by short balls – also helped as he took his time to work through his troubles.There were only seven boundaries in the session – only three in the first hour of play when New Zealand nudged their overnight score by 32 runs in 17 overs.A team that needed a win to level the series batting as if they were in the nets seemed bizarre, but Williamson knew the effect it would have on the South Africans. He also knew he had de Grandhomme down the order to biff a few when needed. And finally, if everything went to plan, his spinners would have a well worn pitch to exploit.It was all reminiscent of New Zealand’s unexpectedly brilliant run in the World T20 in 2016. They couldn’t take the trophy then, but if they can hold their disciplines for one more day – and rain stays away – a prize equally as coveted could be theirs – victory over a team they haven’t beaten for 13 years.

Thakur, Shirke's offices closed down

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The Supreme Court-appointed committee of administrators has shut down the offices of Anurag Thakur and Ajay Shirke after deeming them to be non-functional. Considering how both of them had been removed from the BCCI, the committee asked their staff in Delhi and Pune respectively to leave as well.Diana Edulji, a member of the committee, told ESPNcricinfo: “There is no president, and no secretary, so those offices are not functional. What is the need to have staff in a non-functional office? So they have been asked to leave and they have shut down the offices. This was minuted in the meeting on February 1 in Delhi where all four members [of the committee of administrators] were there.”BCCI media manager Nishant Arora was part of the staff in the Delhi office. It is understood he was given the option to work out of the board’s headquarters in Mumbai, but he declined and submitted his resignation instead.Edulji said any decision on Arora, who was attached with the Indian team’s support staff, would be made by board CEO Rahul Johri. Arora, according to his profile on , has been with the BCCI since May 2015 and was also tournament media manager for the World T20 in India last year.

Team management's backing is a motivator – Saha

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Wriddhiman Saha waited for years and years to get a decent run in the India Test team. After MS Dhoni’s retirement from Tests, Saha made sure India didn’t miss the legendary wicketkeeper, scoring a century in the West Indies and then winning India the Kolkata Test with half-centuries from tricky situations in each innings. An untimely injury gave Parthiv Patel a look-in, and Parthiv grabbed the chance with both hands. Parthiv’s keeping improved gradually, but it was his selfless batting that would have endeared him to the side.Here we go again, Saha might have thought, but the India selectors and team management brought him right back in as soon as he recovered. They did the same with Ajinkya Rahane even though his replacement Karun Nair scored a triple-century in his last Test innings. Saha was thankful for such clarity in thought both from the selectors and the team management after he capped off his comeback with his Test century.”It’s a great plus for the players,” Saha said. “Because after an injury break when one makes a comeback, if you are clearly told that as and when you recover you will be back in the team, the individual gets more motivated and that helps in your performance.”Saha acknowledged Parthiv’s contribution when he was away, but Saha’s comeback began with a match-winning double-century for Rest of India in the Irani Cup incidentally against the Ranji Trophy champions Gujarat, captained by Parthiv himself.”When I was injured, Parthiv performed and he did well,” Saha said. “Whenever he has got chances, he has performed. But may be after my 200, selectors took a decision, which everybody needed to accept. Now that I was back, my aim was to bat as long as possible and contribute as much as possible for the team.”One of the contributions Saha made was to convince Kohli to review an lbw call when he was on 180. The review was successful, and Kohli went on to become the first batsman in the history of the game to score double-centuries in four consecutive series.”Virat thought that he was out but I told him that he had probably stretched your front foot too far,” Saha said. “Hopefully, the impact may be outside, and the ball had spun sharply, so it might be missing the leg stump. So Virat took the call and was saved.”When Kohli was ruled out again, on 204, Saha couldn’t get a word in because Kohli was absolutely convinced he was out. This time Kohli was hit outside the line, but that is something India took in their stride. Kohli returned the favour later in the day when Saha took a catch diving to his right but didn’t go up in appeal because he didn’t hear anything. Kohli, though, had, and he reviewed to reveal to a faint touch on Soumya Sarkar’s bat’s toe, giving Saha his first dismissal on Test return.

Shahzad 80 helps Afghanistan motor into final

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Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAfghanistan stormed into the final of the Desert T20 Challenge after beating Oman by eight wickets, their fifth consecutive win over the team in T20 internationals. Afghanistan chased down a target of 150 with nine balls to spare and now await the winner of the Scotland v Ireland semi-final, before the final match later today.Oman fought bravely through the first innings, coming back to the ground to take on the tournament favourites less than 12 hours after their final Group B match against Scotland. Afghanistan gave Oman a few chances to stay afloat. However, by the start of the chase, Oman struggled to keep their heads above water as Afghanistan commenced a cruise toward the target riding on a 91-run opening stand between Nawroz Mangal and Mohammad Shahzad.Shahzad reached 50 off 35 balls at the start of the 10th over, and added another 45 with Asghar Stanikzai, before falling for 80 with only 14 required for victory. Stanikzai and Samiullah Shenwari knocked off the remaining runs, and clinched the match after a bouncer down leg side was signaled a wide.Poking the bear
Oman were scrapping their way through their innings, desperate to claim any runs on offer. Off the final ball of the 13th over, bowled by Amir Hamza, when Khurram Nawaz pushed toward point for a sharp run. The throw came to the non-striker’s end and hit Nawaz in the legs before it caromed past mid-off. Nawaz didn’t hesitate to come back for a second run on the overthrow and, when he arrived back at the striker’s end, Shahzad didn’t hesitate to give him an earful from behind the stumps.Afghanistan hadn’t been fully engaged until that point, with Dawlat Zadran in particular bowling poorly with the new ball. But after that extra run, Afghanistan flipped a switch. Rashid Khan beat an attempted sweep by Nawaz with a googly, to rattle the stumps in the 19th over, and then gave the batsman a send-off, pointing him off the field to the dugout.Rashid Khan gives Khurram Nawaz a send-off. The batsman’s extra run off an overthrow, after the ball had hit him, flipped a switch in the Afghanistan side•Peter Della Penna

Big-match Mo
Shahzad seemed especially offended at Nawaz’s transgression. He used his bat in the second innings as if it were a principal’s paddle for spanking naughty school kids. Shahzad’s batting record in the knockout stages of Associate tournaments in the UAE is superb and he extended that trend today against Oman.Left-arm fast bowler Bilal Khan, Oman’s most incisive bowler in this tournament, was clubbed over mid-on for four in the opening over to set the tone for the rest of Shahzad’s innings. Kaleemullah was brought on in the third over so that Bilal could switch ends and Shahzad went on to flick the tall right-arm quick over mid-off in his second over. The next ball was a disdainful flick over midwicket for six to leave Kaleemullah slack-jawed.Shahzad almost never misses an opportunity to animatedly celebrate even the smallest milestones, but upon bringing up his half-century on this day, he didn’t even raise his bat. When he was finally dismissed, though, he made sure to recognise the fans, gesturing his appreciation with a flick and wave to the western stand where most of them had congregated. They are hoping it’s not the last time he raises his bat on finals day.

Bangladesh slide dramatically to 0-2 loss after Broom ton

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Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:14

Isam: Spirit has been sucked out of Bangladesh batting

Another mind-numbing batting collapse from Bangladesh meant that they lost the Nelson ODI and along with it the series to New Zealand. They only had 252 to chase, and at one point were 105 for 1 but ended up losing the remaining nine wickets for only 79 runs. This meant that Neil Broom, who made his first ODI century nearly eight years after his debut, had something special to savour.It was déjà vu for Bangladesh. Back in October, they were on course to chase England’s 309 in Mirpur. After Imrul Kayes and Shakib Al Hasan added 118 runs for the fifth wicket, the hosts needed just 39 runs in the last 8.3 overs. But they ended up losing their last six wickets for 17 runs in the space of 39 balls. It seemed Bangladesh had carried the baggage from that game to their tour of New Zealand.

Hayder reprimanded for breaching code of conduct

Bangladesh allrounder Tanbir Hayder has been reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during his international debut – the second ODI against New Zealand in Nelson.
Hayder, who failed to pick up a wicket in eight overs and managed only two runs in the team’s 67-run loss, was found to have been in violation of Article 2.1.4, which relates to “using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an international match.”
The incident concerned his reaction after the last ball of the 19th over, when he used obscene language after being pulled to the midwicket boundary by Neil Broom, who pressed on to make his maiden ODI hundred.
Since Hayder admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by Chris Broad, the match referee, there was no need for a formal hearing.

There was a rosy period, as with most Bangladesh batting collapses. After New Zealand were restricted to the first score under 300 batting first at home against Bangladesh, Kayes and Sabbir Rahman added 75 runs for the second wicket.Kayes showed good patience, nudging singles off the wicket-to-wicket balls and taking full toll when he was given width. The pull also came out a number of times and when part-time seamer Colin Munro dropped him on 19, New Zealand would have been worried. Sabbir, from the other end, confidently cut and drove the fast bowlers as Bangladesh seemed to take control. They needed 146 runs off 163 balls with nine wickets in hand.That was when the first domino fell, via a tragicomic run-out. Kayes pushed the ball into the covers and set off for a quick single. Sabbir responded initially before changing his mind. Kayes kept on running, and ended up reaching the non-striker’s end before Sabbir who had turned him away. That meant the throw at the strikers’ end essentially led to the the non-striker’s run out.Then, in the 26th over, an inswinging yorker from Lockie Ferguson toppled Mahmudullah’s middle stump.Three overs later, Shakib Al Hasan cut Kane Williamson to backward point. In the next over from the part-time offspinner, Mosaddek Hossain chipped a catch to mid-off.Five balls later Kayes drove lazily at a Tim Southee delivery and Bangladesh’s best hope for stemming the collapse was gone. He made 59 off 89 with six fours.Bangladesh lost six wickets in 10 overs between the 23rd and the 33rd and were eventually bowled out for 184. One more damning sign of their collapse was that it was a part-timer, Williamson, who took the most wickets – 3 for 22.It completed a highly satisfying series win for New Zealand after their torrid tours of India and Australia. One that might not have happened if the selectors hadn’t thawed Broom out of ice. He had to wait six years to restart his ODI career, but ended 2016 with a maiden century that proved match-winning on a day bathed in sunshine, and on a pitch slower than normal at Saxton Oval, New Zealand struggled to bat at their usual high tempo.Only Broom applied himself to any effect. He was particularly good driving through extra cover and used the sweep liberally – both shots were used to upset the spinners. His team was nine down when he was on 99, but Trent Boult hung in there just long enough and Broom finished unbeaten on 109 off 106 balls with eight fours and three sixes.The rest of the New Zealand batting line-up faltered with Martin Guptill falling leg-before to Mashrafe in the first over. Kane Williamson was dismissed for 17 by Taskin Ahmed for the second time in as many games and the Boxing Day centurion Tom Latham, was lbw for 22.Broom and James Neesham added 51 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter was stumped for 28, giving wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan his first ODI dismissal. Munro, another hero from Christchurch, lasted six balls before Mashrafe got one to scythe between his bat and pad and hit the top of off-stump. Luke Ronchi added 64 for the sixth wicket with Broom to push the total past 200 and in the end, it proved more than enough.

Ferguson to captain raw South Australia squad

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Callum Ferguson will captain a South Australia squad lacking experience during this year’s Matador Cup. The Redbacks lost the final to New South Wales last year but this year will be without several key players – captain Travis Head, legspinner Adam Zampa, and fast bowlers Daniel Worrall and Joe Mennie – who are part of Australia’s ODI squad in South Africa.As a result, South Australia’s 14-man group for the one-day campaign includes five uncapped players. Fast bowler Wes Agar, the brother of Australia spinner Ashton Agar, is a chance to make his debut for the Redbacks having signed a rookie contract with them this year, while there could also be one-day debuts for Jake Weatherald, Michael Cormack, Cameron Valente and Nick Benton.The only players with significant one-day experience in the South Australia squad are Ferguson, Tom Cooper, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross and Tim Ludeman. The tournament will mark the return to cricket for Ferguson after he suffered a serious knee injury in December. Remarkably, he has only captained South Australia once before – in a solitary one-day game in 2007.”The team loses significant experience due to four Australian players being absent and we will look to Callum and other senior players to lead the way on and off the ground,” South Australia’s general manager of high performance Tim Nielsen, said. “We couldn’t be more pleased about having our players represent Australia, and it’s a huge opportunity for our squad to compete hard and continue their development from last season.”South Australia squad Callum Ferguson (capt), Wes Agar, Tom Andrews, Nick Benton, Alex Carey, Tom Cooper, Michael Cormack, Alex Gregory, Jake Lehmann, Tim Ludeman, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Cameron Valente, Jake Weatherald.

India pursue history, consolidation of No. 1 Test ranking

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Match facts

August 18-22, 2016
Start time 1000 local (1400 GMT)

Big Picture

The adage “good things come to those who wait” has a connotation that impatience can jeopardise the chances of the arrival of good things, but it is highly unlikely impatience will hurt India’s chances of becoming No. 1 in Test cricket. Given their dominance at home over the last few years, India are almost certain to become the top-ranked Test team at some point during the 13-Test home season, but Virat Kohli’s men don’t want to wait that long. They have a great opportunity here, they have West Indies on the mat, they have finished two Tests inside four days, and if they win the last Test they will retain their momentary No. 1 Test ranking that came their way when Australia lost 3-0 to Sri Lanka. If they do manage to win at Queen’s Park Oval, it will be only the second time that they will have won three Tests in an away series.It hasn’t just been about India’s content. West Indies have been accommodating hosts apart for brief spells when they have shown the discipline to push India. There was a time when they had made India bowlers wait 528 balls for a wicket, but lost their last 17 wickets in 63.5 overs to lose the third Test despite a day’s relief handed to them by rain. There was a time when they had reduced India to 126 for 5 in 49.3 overs but not only did they concede 227 in the rest of that innings, they went at 4.5 an over in the second when they needed to delay India’s declaration. India have been tested but not for long enough.Coming to the only ground where they have won more than they have lost in the last 10 years, West Indies will hope they can put up creditable resistance.

Form guide

West Indies LDLDL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India WDWWW

In the spotlight

Virat Kohli has made it clear he will be batting at No. 3 to accommodate Rohit Sharma at No. 5. Except that the last Test, when he moved up to No.3, exposing himself to a newish ball, he registered his lowest Test aggregate. Kohli, though, wants to lead by example; if he feels playing Rohit is the right thing to, he will be the first one to make a sacrifice if required. A middling attack is not a bad place to test himself at No. 3 either.First there was Darren Sammy, now there is Jason Holder: pliant Test captains whose spirit cannot be doubted but whose numbers don’t justify a settled place in Test XIs. Anybody who has followed this series knows Holder has toiled his socks off but he still remains a No. 8 who averages 48.09 with the ball. He has only one wicket to show for 86.2 overs of tireless bowling with a proud seam in this series.

Team news

Leon Johnson, who replaced the failing opener Rajendra Chandrika in the third Test, hasn’t set the world alight but has shown promise. West Indies are likely to give him another Test. Queen’s Park Oval has traditionally been a spinner-friendly surface so if West Indies bring back Devendra Bishoo, it will have to be at the expense of one of the three specialist quicks, none of whom had a horrible Test in St Lucia.West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 Leon Johnson, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Jermaine Blackwood, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Shane Dowrich (wk), 8 Jason Holder (capt), 9, 10 and 11 (out of) Alzarri Joseph, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel and Devendra BishooVirat Kohli made it quite clear he was not going to give Rohit Sharma just the one Test. With the addition of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s swing to the side, the attack is well rounded. The only man whose place might be in question now is Shikhar Dhawan, if India look to draft M Vijay back in.India (probable): 1 KL Rahul, 2 M Vijay/Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Ajinkya Rahane, 5 Rohit Sharma, 6 R Ashwin, 7 Wriddhiman Saha, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Ishant Sharma

Pitch and conditions

A dry pitch awaits the teams at the Queen’s Park Oval, with Kohli expecting turn and bounce for the spinners. Kohli, however, said he had spotted a couple of damp patches on Tuesday, and would wait to see how the pitch looked on the first morning before deciding on the composition of India’s XI. There has been intermittent rain in Port-of-Spain in the lead-up to the match, and weather interruptions are likely.

Stats and trivia

  • R Ashwin needs eight wickets in the fourth Test to join Clarrie Grimmett as the fastest to 200 Test wickets
  • No West Indies batsman has averaged more than 40 in this series, only two bowlers are under that mark
  • Five of India’s batsmen have averaged over 40; none of their bowlers are over that mark
  • Among grounds in West Indies that have hosted 10 or more Tests, Queen’s Park Oval has afforded spinners the best average – 36.66. The Bourda Oval in Guyana is the only other venue in West Indies where spinners average under 40, a marginal 39.94

Quotes

“It’s a nice incentive, but it doesn’t really change anything for the team. Our goal has been to play good cricket, and we’ve done that in the past one year or so. We want to continue with the same.”
“Personally I’d have liked to have done a little bit better. With the bat, I’ve got a few starts. Wickets have not been coming my way, but [I have been] doing part of my job in terms of holding up the ends and working real hard and giving the other bowlers time to rest. That part I’ve been doing well in this series, but I just haven’t got the wickets to show.”