West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has kept the door open for Kemar Roach to return in the second Test against Bangladesh if the Sylhet pitch offers help to fast bowlers.
West Indies left Roach out of the first Test in Mirpur and picked an extra spinner. The decision worked as the visitors won by eight wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
However, the surface in Sylhet looks different. Sammy has seen more grass on the pitch but wants to wait until Thursday morning before deciding his playing XI.
“I could say there’s a lot more grass on the surface, but again, we will wait until tomorrow when they hand over the ground,” Sammy said at the press conference on Wednesday.
The West Indies coach explained that his team had prepared for different conditions before arriving in Bangladesh.
He said Bangladesh’s recent success with fast bowling had made it difficult to predict what type of pitches the hosts would prepare.
“We were not sure what type of surface we were going to get, whether it be the one that assisted the pacers where they could play three out-and-out fast bowlers and two spinners, or whether they could play two pacers and three spinners,” he said.
Sammy believes Roach gives West Indies another option if the Sylhet pitch helps the pacers.
“If tomorrow comes, it seems like a seam-friendly wicket, we have Kemar Roach,” he said.
But he also has other players ready if the pitch offers more help to spinners.
“If it remains the same and they cut off all the grass just before, then we have equally capable players to come in and balance the squad,” he said.
West Indies enjoyed success with spin in Mirpur. Jomel Warrican took nine wickets in the match, while captain Roston Chase claimed five in Bangladesh’s second innings.
Their batters also handled Bangladesh’s spinners well. Brandon King scored an unbeaten 81 as West Indies chased 170 to win the opening Test.
Sammy said the team had worked hard to improve against spin, which had caused problems for West Indies in the past.
“To put out a display, especially chasing a tricky total like that in the second innings, the way the guys played, we just want them to continue,” he said.
The coach also praised the opening pair of King and John Campbell for giving the batting order more stability.
“Brandon and John at the top of the innings, they’ve probably been our best opening pair in a long time,” he said.
Sammy believes the win in Mirpur has made Bangladesh’s team selection more difficult. However, he does not expect an easy match in Sylhet.
“Test cricket, you can’t take anyone for granted and you’ve just got to go out and hope your team executes better than the opposition,” he said.
West Indies need only a draw to win the series, but Sammy’s team will aim for another victory in the final Test.
