Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s century leads West Indies towards a big chasing score against India

The first Test match of the three-match Test series between India and West Indies starts on November 6 (Sunday) at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.

Today was the opening day of the five-day Test match. Winning the toss, the West Indian captain, Darren Sammy, chose to bat first on a slow pitch.

At the end of the opening day, the visitors scored 256 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Shivnarine Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 111 and Carlton Baugh remained not out on 19.

It was Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s 24^th Test century and 7^th against India. It helped his team to come out of trouble after losing 3 wickets for 72.

He made partnership with the young opener Kraigg Brathwaite and added 108 runs for the fourth wicket stand. After the departure of Brathwaite, who scored 63 in his 4^th Test match, he made pair with Samuels but it did not stay for long time. With Carlton Baugh, he contributed 56 runs in the sixth-wicket stand.

Pragyan Ojha claimed the first 3 wickets for giving 58 runs off 29 overs. Debutant spinner R Ashwin finished the day with 2-79 off 25 overs.

Indian pacers had to struggle a lot to get a wicket on a slow pitch. Both Ishant Sharma and another debutant bowler Umesh Yadav could not make any impact against the opponent team.

However, West Indies still have 5 wickets at hand and they are looking to make a big chasing score against the home team.

West Indies is hoping to take advantage from India’s young bowling line up

The much awaited Test series between India and West Indies is going to commence from November 6 at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. Both of the teams are looking towards the opening Test match. This match is scheduled to kick off at 04:00 GMT and 09:30 Indian Standard Time.

The host team has been tagged as a hot favorite against the West Indies. However, the visitors are not a less strong team in comparison with the host.

West Indies cricket team is eagerly waiting to face their strong opponent. It seems that they will be happy to see India’s young and inexperienced bowling line up. Indian selectors have picked up four uncapped players- off-spinner R Ashwin, leg-spinner Rahul Sharma and pacers Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron. Neither of them has played any Test match.

Except Rahul Sharma, all of them have already played ODI format of cricket game. Pragyan Ojha is the only experienced spinner who has been selected in the squad. On the other hand, pace attack will be lead by Ishant Sharma.

Indian bowling line up will definitely be looking weaker with the absence of Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar. No doubt, West Indian batsmen will not have to struggle a lot to get runs.

There is not too many change in the West Indies squad. The 15-member squad consists of young and experienced players with an average age of less than 26. Only two players- Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels, are above 30 and they have experience to play Tests in Indian soil.

The 1-0 victory against Bangladesh will inspire them to play well and continue their winning margin against India. However, the visitors will miss the service of Chris Gayle who has been out of the squad because of his disagreement with the WICB.

Yuvraj Singh is expecting a crucial Test series against West Indies

India’s home series against West Indies has caught the attention of cricket lovers. The host is certainly the hot favorite against the visitors. There is less doubt about the victory of Indian cricket team in the coming Test series.

However, Indian player, Yuvraj Singh, thinks that the Test series between India and West Indies is going to be crucial as the full-fledge home series has been scheduled before their tour of Australia later this year.

As their tour of Bangladesh has recently been concluded, they will move to India to play three-Test and five One-day Internationals against the home team.

Yuvraj Singh has taken the West Indies series very seriously. They can take confidence to Australia after performing well in their home soil.

According to Yuvraj, India has a lot of experienced players and young players should learn from them. He also expects that India rule the visitors.

Yuvraj Singh is a regular member in ODI format of cricket game. But in his eight years of cricket career he has not played too many Test matches. So, he is happy for his inclusion in the Test squad.

Playing 35 Tests, he has scored 1709 at an average of 35.60, including three hundreds and 10 half-centuries.

He injured his left index finger during the second Test against England at Trent Bridge and since then he has not played any match. Now, he has been recovering well and hopes that he will be fully fit before he took to the field against West Indies.

His performance against West Indies is not good. Let’s see if he can do well and permanent his place as a Test player.

West Indies Test squad against India

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has announced a 15-man Test squad for their tour of India. Thinking about the condition of Indian venues, selectors have brought some changes in this squad.

Adrian Barath has been selected in the squad in the place of Lendl Simmons. He has made his return after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Lendl Simmons did not find a place for him and he will be sent home. He got recall for the Tests in Bangladesh as a replacement of injured Barath.

Though Simmons was not in good form, selectors picked him in the Test squad after he scored a century and a half-century in the first and second ODIs in Bangladesh. Except him, there are no other changes in the squad.

Young opener, Kraigg Brathwaite, and Kieran Powell both have been included in the squad against India. Both of these players have scored half-centuries in the first innings of the second Test played in Mirpur Test.

Denesh Ramdin has been taken as an optional wicketkeeper while Carlton Baugh will continue his duty behind the wicket. Spin attack consists of with Shane Shillingford and Devendra Bishoo. Skipper Darren Sammy can play as a third spinner.

The three-match Test series between India and West Indies will start on November 6 in Delhi. After the end of Test series, both teams will play 5 ODIs.

West Indies’ Test Squad against India: Darren Sammy (captain), Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh (wk), Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kirk Edwards, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Ravi Rampaul, Fidel Edwards, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Devendra Bishoo, Shane Shillingford.

West Indies will face tough challenge against India

The West Indies cricket team has successfully finished their Bangladesh tour with a 229-run victory that helped them to seal the two-match Test series 1-0. Now, they will move towards India to play a three-Test series against the host team beginning on November 6, 2011. However, it is said that their tour of India will be much difficult than their recently concluded series.

Indian cricket team is hot favorite in their home soil and they have the highest possibility to win the series. Betters would like to bet on them.

Batting is always a strong side for the host team. The return of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh from injury will help to make a strong batting line up. They will be supported by Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. There is no confusion that the West Indian bowlers will have to struggle hard to bowl against them.

This strong Indian side will be led by MS Dhoni. Selectors thought to send him for rest, but he wants to play. His home record as captain is impressive. If we look at the record of last five years then we can see that India won 11 matches, draw nine and lost just two matches. However, India has a bitter experience against West Indies. They beat West Indies 2-0 at home in 2002.

The bowling line up will be consisting of young and inexperienced bowlers. Only Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha have played Test format of cricket game.

Zaheer Khan and Praveen Kumar have been sidelined due to injury while Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh have been dropped from the side. R Ashwin and Rahul Sharma are expected to make their Test debut with the series.

West Indies will make some changes in their squad to face the home team. Now, their victory against Bangladesh will boost them to perform well against India and continue their victory.

India vs West Indies Test and ODI Schedule

Cricket fans are excitedly waiting for the upcoming Test series between India and the West Indies starting from November 6, 2011 at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi.

The West Indies cricket team is scheduled to play three Tests and five one-day internationals during their five-week tour. To play a full-fledge tour series, they will arrive in India on November 3.

The venues of ODIs are Cuttack, Vishakhapatnam, Ahmedabad, Indore and Chennai while Test matches will be played in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Only a few days are left for the start of the first Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla, but the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has not announced the squad for the India tour. So, it is yet to know who will play in the West Indies team.

Test Schedule:

Date	Teams	Time	Venue
November 6-10	India vs West Indies – 1st Test	GMT 04:00 local 09:30 IST 09:30	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
November 14-18	India vs West Indies – 2nd Test	GMT 04:00 local 09:30 IST 09:30	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
November 22-26	India vs West Indies – 3rd Test	GMT 04:00 local 09:30 IST 09:30	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

ODI Schedule:

Date	Teams	Time	Venue
November 29	India vs West Indies	GMT 09:00 local 14:30 IST 14:30	Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
December 2	India vs West Indies	GMT 09:00 local 14:30 IST 14:30	Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
December 5	India vs West Indies	GMT 09:00 local 14:30 IST 14:30	Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
December 8	India vs West Indies	GMT 09:00 local 14:30 IST 14:30	Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
December 11	India vs West Indies	GMT 09:00 local 14:30 IST 14:30	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Indian cricket board has been surprised to see their indifference attitude about the Test series. There is a question if the West Indian players can get visas to make it to India in time for the first Test.

However, according to a WICB spokesman, the squad will be announced soon. They may announce squad after the end of 2^nd and final Test match against Bangladesh which is will be end on Wednesday.