KINGSTON: Bolstered by a crushing innings win in the opening Test, India will look to assert their supremacy over West Indies in the second Test, starting at Sabina Park here on Saturday.

India recorded their biggest victory outside the sub-continent when they thrashed the hosts by an innings and 92 runs in Antigua last week to go 1-0 up in the four-match series.

India will look to continue in the same vein but it would be easier said than done as a green pitch awaits the visitors at Sabina Parka, a stark contrast to the conditions on offer in Antigua.

Given the very evident gulf between the two teams at present, the grassy track should expedite matters in this forthcoming match as well.

While India will find comfort in a settled line-up, there are some obvious points to ponder over like fitness of opener Murali Vijay. Uncertainty lies over Vijay’s availability in the second Test after he took a blow on his thumb by Shannon Gabriel on the first day of the series, and didn’t field in both West Indies’ innings.

Given the conditions here, West Indies could be tempted to play rookie fast bowler Alzarri Joseph. The 19-year-old could be in line to make his Test debut alongside Miguel Cummins, the 25-year-old who was overlooked for the Antigua Test.

Gabriel was the only genuine quick in that line-up, backed by fast-medium exponents in captain Jason Holder and Carlos Brathwaite.

Joseph brings genuine pace to a West Indies attack that struggled for penetration in a lopsided defeat in the first Test. He made an impression in the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh earlier this year, helping the West Indies lift the crown with a 13-wicket haul in that tournament, while Cummins is known to work up good pace.

Joseph has played just eight first class matches, picking up 24 wickets at an average of a tad over 24.

Senior batsman Marlon Samuels will be in the spotlight as since the end of the first Test, rumour has been swirling about his future with some suggesting that the 35-year-old could be playing his last Test series.

All eyes in Kingston will be on Samuels as it remains to be seen whether he can follow up his half-century in the second innings in Antigua and make a bigger impact here on his home ground.

Samuels, meanwhile, described Joseph as “young, fit, fast and fearless” and chairman of selectors Courtney Browne thought the youngster was ready for promotion.

“We feel that Alzarri will now benefit from the professional guidance of our coaching staff and the presence of fast bowling legend Joel Garner as manager,” Browne said.

Joseph’s addition brings the squad to 14 players, with nobody dropped after the first Test, where India piled up 566 for eight declared.

West Indies also underperformed with the bat in the first Test, compiling scores of only 243 and 231.

Samuels, who scored one and 50, said it is time he raised his Test batting to the level of his performances in Twenty20 and One-day Internationals.

He averages only 33.39 in Tests, less than his ODI average and not far shy of his Twenty20 average.

The right-hander added he felt ‘a lot of pressure’ and was aware he needed to temper his aggression at times and focus on occupying the crease.

“I’m batting at four, so I have to dominate. The responsibility is great so I have to change my game.”

Teams (from):

WEST INDIES: Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Rajendra Chandrika, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Leon Johnson, Shane Dowrich (wk), Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Shannon Gabriel, Miguel Cummins, Alzarri Joseph.

INDIA: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, K.L. Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Stuart Binny, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur.

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Ian Gould (England).

TV umpire: Nigel Duguid (West Indies).

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2016

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