After an eventful Test series, which ended with Bangladesh winning a Test in the West Indies, after 15 years, the action moves to the ODIs, where Bangladesh are eyeing their last chance to tick boxes ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy, while West Indies are looking to continue improving in the format after missing out on qualifying for the 2023 World Cup.
Will the chatter continue in St Kitts?
The cricket between the two sides was absorbing during the Test series. So, too, was the sledging. It was louder from the West Indies side as Jayden Seales had something to say to all the Bangladesh batters.
He taunted Mehidy Hasan Miraz when he ducked under a bouncer. The slip cordon joined in from time to time, particularly Kevin Sinclair, who was a substitute fielder in Jamaica.
The on-field umpires spoke to captain Kraigg Brathwaite a few times, and even told the players to calm down. Later, the ICC fined Seales for his send-off to Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Sinclair for not listening to the umpires and continuing to talk.
Bangladesh, for their part, weren’t as animated as the home side, but they did have the odd one-liner to share from time to time.
The West Indians looked like they lost a bit of focus on the job at hand as a result of all the talk, and might not take the same route in the ODIs. In any case, after the Test win in Jamaica, Bangladesh should now have a few replies ready.
West Indies are in form even if their captain isn’t
The first priority for West Indies would be to continue their good showing in ODIs after the series win against England recently.
Shai Hope leads a side that has a good batting line-up and an impressive pace battery. They have included the uncapped Amir Jangoo, who was the top run-getter in the recent Super50 ODI tournament. Justin Greaves, who made three centuries in a row in the competition, returns to the ODI setup, too.
But Hope, the highest-ranked ODI batter of the two sets of players, needs to return to ODI form, having averaged 29.28 this year. This comes after several good years – in 2023, he made 824 runs at an average of 68.66. Keacy Carty has shown form for West Indies in ODIs this year, while left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie is their leading wicket-taker.
West Indies’ batting line-up is full of power-hitters. Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer and Evin Lewis will be expected to provide the big hits, while Roston Chase usually holds together the middle-order.
The two Josephs – Alzarri and Shamar – will have Seales for company on the fast-bowling front, while Romario Shepherd will also add to the battery, while also offering depth in the batting.
The three ODIs are on December 8, 10 and 12. The weather is mostly dry but there’s a forecast of some rain during the second ODI.
BAN vs WI: Head to Head Records in ODIs Sunday’s clash will be an even contest in the truest sense as Bangladesh
and West Indies have faced off 44 times in ODIs, with both teams winning 21 matches each. The remaining two matches ended in no results. At Warner Park, Bangladesh holds a slight advantage, having won two out of three games at the venue.
West Indies, despite being on home turf, have managed only a solitary win against the visitors here. Their most recent ODI clash dates back to Bangladesh’s 2022 tour of the West Indies.
In the second ODI, Bangladesh dominated the proceedings after electing to bowl first. Despite a steadying 73-run knock by Nicholas Pooran, West Indies were bowled out for 178 in 48 overs.
Bangladesh’s chase was anchored by Litton Das’s half-century and Tamim Iqbal’s valuable 34 runs, leading them to a four-wicket victory with nine balls to spare.