GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Opener Leon Johnson is poised to play his first Test in 20 months as West Indies look to further strengthen but the third Test against India was set to bowl off here today amidst a threat of boycott and protests by local fans over the sacking of national icon Darren Sammy.
Since the 32-year-old all-rounder – after whom the Test venue is named – announced last Friday that he had been removed as captain and dropped from the West Indies Twenty20 side, both local and regional fans have expressed their outrage at the decision with many taking to social media to call for a boycott of the game.
Local media here have reported that protests have been planned for outside the stadium – formerly the Beausejour Cricket Ground – while plans for a boycott by groups of fans have also gathered momentum.
If such protests materialise, they are likely to overshadow West Indies’ quest to square the four-match series over the next five days at the scenic venue.
The hosts enter the game in a buoyant mood, stemming from their fighting performance on the final day of the second Test at Sabina Park last week, which saw them secure a draw after defeat seemed a certainty.
In an attempt to shore up their suspect batting, the Windies will bring in the left-handed Johnson who remarkably has not played since the third and final Test against South Africa in Cape Town last year January – despite the Guyanese averaging nearly 40 in his four Tests.
Rajendra Chandrika, who was preferred to Johnson over the last 12 months, was dropped from the squad for the upcoming game after averaging 14 from five Tests.
In confirming Johnson as part of the final XI, captain Jason Holder said he hoped that the Windies batting unit could express themselves freely, as they looked to improve their recent dodgy form.
“Leon Johnson will open the batting tomorrow. He’s the next opener in the line so he will in the squad to replace Chandrika. I wish him the very best and hopefully he gets some runs,” Holder told a media conference yesterday.
He added: “I think it is important for each batsman to play their game, whether you’re a stroke-player or whether you’re somebody who’s a lot more patient. You’ve got to work out what your game plan is and what’s best suited for you.
“If you look at our middle order, it is a bit more free spirited in terms of stroke-play and our top order is a little more conservative especially at the beginning but as they spend some time [at the crease] they tend to flourish.
“If you look back at the last two Test matches, the problem is that top order haven’t been getting in. They just need to work a little harder on getting in. I think once they get in – the likes of (Darren) Bravo, the likes of Kraigg Brathwaite, the likes of Marlon Samuels – we all know what they can do once they get a start.
“So it’s about them getting a start, get a sweat, get themselves going and carrying on from there.”
West Indies will be hoping their batsmen can continue what was started in the last Test when Roston Chase struck his maiden Test century and Holder, wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and Jermaine Blackwood all got half-centuries, as the side amassed 388 for six in their second innings. The strip at the Darren Sammy National Stadium is expected to be an even one, and provides the ideal platform for the Windies to build on their momentum.
Holder said, however, they would also consider bolstering the seam attack, as the surface appeared as if it would also offer assistance to the faster bowlers.
“If you look at the pitch here, it seems to have on a bit of grass. There’s a strong possibility we may have a change in terms of our bowling department, we may think about the extra seamer,” Holder noted.
“This wicket here over the years it has played a little quicker than most pitches in the Caribbean. For me, I think it is the best cricket pitch in the Caribbean in terms of carry and assistance for the quicker bowlers so there’s a strong possibility you may see an extra seamer.”
He added: “We’re not quite sure yet, we’re still trying to weigh up a few things in terms of our thinking. Again I think we’ll have a better understanding tomorrow morning when we see the pitch. We’ll confirm then.”
India lead the series 1-0 following their innings and 92-run victory in the opening Test in Antigua a fortnight ago.
SQUADS:
WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite (vice-captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Leon Johnson, Alzarri Joseph, Marlon Samuels.
INDIA – Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, Stuart Binny, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.
