Afghanistan’s Test journey may only be three matches old, but they’ve already secured two wins, including a big one against Bangladesh in their most recent game, and their spinners pose a very real threat to West Indies.
In their most recent Test, Afghanistan secured a handsome win over Bangladesh in their backyard. Rahmat Shah produced a marvellous first-innings hundred but it was captain Rashid Khan’s bag of 11 wickets that was key to the 224-run win.
If Bangladesh, a team that is a lot more familiar with spin, were outsmarted by Afghanistan’s tweakers, the West Indies batters will know that they will have to be at their best to avoid the same fate.
Afghanistan, of course, will be without Mohammad Nabi, who called it quits from the longest format after the game against Bangladesh, and his reliable off-spin will surely be missed. But, they still have a wealth of fantastic slower bowlers to choose from, including Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan and Amir Hamza. While left-arm spinner Hamza is yet to play a Test, he may get a look in after having picked up eight wickets against the West Indians in the practice game.
West Indies have good experience in the batting line-up. Kraigg Brathwaite and Roston Chase have scored centuries in Asia, but it will be just as crucial for younger talents such as Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer to do their part in countering Afghanistan.
The West Indies bowling attack – led by Jason Holder, ranked No.1 on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings for all-rounders – has been faring well recently. While it’s their fast bowlers who have made the biggest impact, it will be crucial for their spinners Jomel Warrican and Rakheem Cornwall to do well at Lucknow as well.
These two sides are yet to face each other in Test cricket. The limited-overs rivalry between them was reflected during the ODIs and T20Is earlier in the month. West Indies outclassed Afghanistan in each of the three fifty-over matches and won the first T20I as well, but Afghanistan bounced back to win the last two T20Is and claim the series.
Hope and Chase struck good form during the ODIs and will look to transfer those skills into the Test match. Chase was also among the wickets and his off-spin will have a big role to play. Worryingly for Afghanistan, Rashid wasn’t quite at his potent best, but the skipper will hope to get back to his incisive ways. Fast bowler Karim Janat excelled in the second T20I, picking up 5/11 and it will be interesting to see whether Afghanistan are tempted to hand him his maiden Test cap on the back of that performance.
