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WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

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Last Updated on 4 weeks by Charbel Coorey

WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs Pakistan 1st Test Key Players | Kingston Pitch Report

So, after the T20I series between West Indies and Pakistan ended in a damp squib with three out of four matches ending in a no result due to persistent rain in Guyana, the focus of the Asian sides’ tour of the Caribbean shifts to the longest format of the game with the first Test starting at Kingston, Jamaica from Thursday, August 12.

The two-match Test series is a part of the second cycle of the ICC World Test Championship and both sides will be looking to gain crucial two-match rubber.

Pakistan Cricket Team come into this series on the back of consecutive Test series wins against South Africa (at home) and Zimbabwe (away). The Babar Azam-led unit will be looking to continue with its good form in the longest form and claim their second Test series win in the Caribbean.

This will also be Babar Azam’s first major Test assignment as a skipper away from the safe comforts of home. The charismatic cricketer did not feature in Pakistan’s last away Test series against a full-member nation- vs New Zealand in the winter of 2020- which the Asian side lost 0-2 under Mohammad Rizwan.

As for the West Indies, the Caribbean side is yet to win a Test match since its historic series win in Bangladesh earlier this year. While they drew 0-0 on benign tracks against Sri Lanka, they were blown away by South African pacers earlier this summer as they lost the 1st Test by 158 runs and the second by an innings & 63 runs.

Can the hosts shrug off their poor Test form or will Pakistan do an encore of their 2017 triumph in the Caribbean islands?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

West Indies:

  • Kraig Brathwaite: Skipper Kraig Brathwaite is the 2nd leading run-getter for the West Indies this calendar year. In 12 innings, the gritty opener has scored 414 runs at an average of 34.50 with a couple of half-centuries and one hundred. The onus will be on the skipper to spearhead the batting unit.
  • Kyle Mayers: Kyle Mayers has been the find of the year for the West Indies as far as Test cricket is concerned. Mayers is leading the charts as far as most runs scored by a West Indian in 2021 and he will once again be the key to the home sides’ fortunes. In 12 innings, Mayers has racked up 521 runs at an average of 47.36 with two half-centuries and one hundred.
  • Nkrumah Bonner: Bonner has the highest average among all West Indian batters this year. In 8 innings, he has scored 385 runs which include 2 half-centuries and one ton.
  • Kemar Roach: Roach was the leading wicket-taker for the West Indies against South Africa earlier in the summer. In 2 matches, Roach claimed 9 wickets at an average of 17.89. Roach is the joint second-highest wicket-taker for the West Indies this year- 19 wickets in 9 innings at an average of 23.68.
  • Jason Holder: Jason Holder may have had an average time with the bat this year- 172 runs in 5 innings at an average of 24- but he has been good enough with the ball, having claimed 13 wickets in 7 innings at an average of 21.23. The West Indies will hope that the former skipper and champion all-rounder shrugs off his indifferent year with the bat in the Test series against Pakistan.

Pakistan:

  • Azhar Ali: Former skipper Azhar Ali has been in sensational form this year. He is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer, having racked up 407 runs in 8 innings at 58.14 with a couple of half-centuries and a hundred. Ali loves batting against the West Indies. In 16 innings against the ‘Men in Maroon’, the former skipper has racked up 889 runs at an average of 59.26 with four half-centuries and three tons and he will be looking to emulate the same this summer.
  • Babar Azam: Skipper Babar Azam has had a poor time in Test cricket this year. In 6 innings, Azam has managed just 124 runs at an average of 20.66 with just one 50+ score. But Azam is too good a player to remain out of form for an extended duration of time and one can expect the charismatic batter to script a turnaround in this series.
  • Abid Ali: Abid Ali, just like Azhar Ali, has been brilliant with the bat this year. In 8 innings, he has managed 359 runs at 51.28 with one half-century and one hundred. But, his real challenge will come against the hostile pace of Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales. Can he rise to the challenge?
  • Fawad Alam: Alam has been in sensational form ever since he earned a recall to the Pakistani side after a decade-long wait. In 8 innings this year, the southpaw has racked up 333 runs at an average of 47.57 with a couple of classy tons. His next challenge will be against the pace of Roach, Seales, Joseph and the accuracy of Holder. Can he turn it on again?
  • Mohammad Rizwan: Irrespective of formats, Mohammad Rizwan has proved to be an absolute run-machine for Pakistan across all formats in the past 12-15 months and he will once again hold the key to visitors fortunes in this series. In 7 innings, the stumper has racked up 303 runs at 50.50 with one half-century and one ton.
  • Hasan Ali: Ali has been the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan this year. In 8 innings, he has claimed 26 wickets at an average of 13.88 which includes 4 five-wicket-hauls and one ten for.
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi: Afridi will once again be the one to watch out for in the Test series. He is the second highest wicket-taker for the visitors this year, having claimed 19 wickets in 9 innings at 24.36.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 52, West Indies 17, Pakistan 20, Draw 15.
  • Since 2010, Matches 8, West Indies 3, Pakistan 5.
  • Pakistan won their first-ever Test series in the Caribbean during their last visit in 2017. They won the three-match rubber 2-1.
  • Pakistan’s record at Kingston: Matches 4, Won 2, Lost 2.

Possible Playing XI

West Indies

The home side have named a 17-man squad for the two-match series. While pacer Chemar Holder and middle-order batter Shamarh Brooks have been recalled, the veteran duo of Shannon Gabriel and Darren Bravo are missing.

Possible Playing XI: 1. Kraigg Brathwaite (c), 2. Shai Hope, 3. Nkrumah Bonner, 4. Roston Chase, 5. Kyle Mayers, 6. Jermaine Blackwood, 7. Joshua de Silva (wk), 8. Jason Holder, 9. Kemar Roach, 10. Jayden Seales, 11. Alzarri Joseph

Pakistan

Pakistan is likely to feature the same playing XI that won 2-0 against Zimbabwe earlier this year. The likes of Abid Ali, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, skipper Babar Azam and Fawad Alam will form the top five with Mohmmad Rizwan slotting in as the wicketkeeper.

Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf will likely take up the all-rounder spots while Mohammad Abbas and Shaheen Shah Afridi will be the pace-bowling spearheads. It will be interesting to see whether Pakistan go with the experience of Yasir Shah or will they opt for Nauman Ali.

Possible Playing XI: 1. Imran Butt, 2. Abid Ali, 3. Azhar Ali, 4. Babar Azam (c), 5. Fawad Alam, 6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7. Faheem Ashraf, 8. Hasan Ali, 9. Yasir Shah, 10. Mohammad Abbas, 11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

Kingston Jamaica Pitch Report and Weather

Once revered for its pace and bounce, the pitch at Sabina Park in Jamaica has become flatter in the past decade or so.

That said, it still offers enough pace and bounce to keep the fast bowlers interested. In 8 Tests since the start of 2011, pacers have claimed 163 wickets in 1362.1 overs at an average of 23.77 as compared to spinners, who have managed 107 wickets in 1036 overs at 31.11.

The average 1st innings score in 52 games played at the venue is 321 which increases to 339 for the second innings and 239 and 146 for third and fourth innings respectively.

Teams’ batting first have won on 17 occasions in 52 Tests as compared to 21 won by the side bowling first.

However, just like the T20I series, poor weather can once again play spoilsport if the forecast over the next few days in Jamaica is to be believed.

According to Accuweather, there are significant chances of rain on each of the five days and overhead skies are likely to be the norm.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs Pakistan 1st Test Key Players | Kingston Pitch Report
WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs Pakistan 1st Test Key Players | Kingston Pitch Report
WI vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

Both West Indies and Pakistan are extremely unpredictable in how they go about their business. However, with Pakistan having more potency and experience in their batting line-up, they should start as favorites.

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