West Indies looking to close out 2024 in winning fashion

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

HEAD COACH of the West Indies Test team Andre Coley is hoping that his side can bounce back from the disappointment of their last series loss to South Africa when they take on Bangladesh in a two-match series beginning Friday.

With the Windies set to play Pakistan in two Test matches in January 2025, Coley said the players were looking to end the year on a winning note and take some momentum into that series.

The opening Test against Bangladesh bowls off at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

“Coming off of the disappointment of the South Africa series, where we really put ourselves in a position to close out that series, we didn’t, and we now have this opportunity against Bangladesh,” Coley said.

“We’ve always had exciting series against Bangladesh, so it’s very important for us to get a winning result on home soil.

“It’s the final four Test matches in this edition of the World Test Championship, so it’s important for us to do well here, win the series and create a bit of momentum heading into Pakistan,” he added.

The West Indies have not lost a Test series at home to Bangladesh since 2009, and the Kraigg Brathwaite-led team will be hoping to extend that record.

Coley maintained that the series gives both seasoned and emerging players an opportunity to impress.

“Each match bears a different opportunity. We have some players here who would have played against Bangladesh home and away, and they would have been successful in those series.

“The players are familiar with each other, and we also have some new players who would not have played in any of those series, so it is an opportunity for senior players and emerging players to show what they’re capable of, what we’re capable of as a team, and as we continue to build, an opportunity to put everything together on the back of the last year and a half and look to close out the year in really good form,” Coley said.

The head coach said while preparations at training camp had not gone as smoothly as expected, the team was still in high spirits ahead of Friday’s opening day.

“The first three or four days in Antigua we were hampered by rain, but we’ve since been able to have a couple of good sessions,” Coley said.

“We’re all in good spirits. Everybody is fit and available.”