Afghanistan's chance to prove they're no pushovers in Tests

Big picture

Don’t let Afghanistan’s two-day loss on their Test debut against India fool you. Since then, they’ve beaten Ireland in India and Bangladesh in Bangladesh. If they beat West Indies in Lucknow, they’ll become the only team in the history of the sport to win three of their first four Tests.

The possibility is real. Under captain Rashid Khan, who has taken three five-wicket hauls in his last four Test innings, Afghanistan will run into a wonky West Indies batting line-up. The win in the T20I series should boost the ‘hosts’ to that effect. In their last three Tests, only twice have the West Indies batsmen gone past fifty. On a ground that is hosting it’s maiden Test, there are a lot of unknown variables, not least of all the pitch. Against a spin-based attack, West Indies will be tested.

That said, Afghanistan would also do well to worry about their batting batting weakness. Barring Rahmat Shah, few have shown the tenacity to bat long. In both of Afghanistan’s Test wins, Rahmat’s contributions have been as integral as Rashid’s. But with senior allrounder Mohammad Nabi having retired from Tests, someone else too needs to step up.

For West Indies, the series is about showing that they aren’t falling behind in the red-ball format. For Afghanistan, it’s time to say that, they too, possess the quality to find a spot in the next cycle’s World Test Championship.

Form Guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)

Afghanistan WWL
West Indies LLLWW

In the spotlight

It appears that the job of filling the Nabi void has been given to 21-year-old allrounder Karim Janat, who has earned a Test berth after a splendid T20I series against West Indies. He struck an 18-ball 26 in the first game, then took 5 for 11 in the second before finishing the series with 1 for 33 in the third. He can find speeds of 140kph regularly, and with his elder brother Asghar Afghan there for company, Janathe can find an arm around him for comfort, instead of being intimidated by the prospects of a main Test appearance.

The form that made Kraigg Brathwaite ESPNcricinfo’s opener of the year in 2016 has gradually diminished as the decade comes to a close. He’s gone 19 innings without a Test fifty, and since February 2019, his only first-class century was one for Glamorgan in the English County Championship. It’s West Indies’ last Test match of the year, and with no other Test till they face England in June 2020, the team’s seniormost batsmen will ache to end 2019 with an impactful performance.

Team news

Afghanistan have recalled experienced left-arm spinner Amir Hamza into the Test squad while handing fast bowler Nijat Masood a maiden call-up. One, or both, could be handed their maiden Test caps on Wednesday.

Afghanistan (probable): 1 Ihsanullah Janat, 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Javed Ahmadi, 5 Asghar Afghan, 6 Karim Janat, 7 Ikram Alikhil (wk), 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Qais Ahmed, 10 Zahir Khan, 11 Njat Masood

West Indies are without Shannon Gabriel and are likely to play two spinners. That means Alzarri Joseph and Keemo Paul are likely to miss out, while it’s a toss-up between Shamarh Brooks, Shimron Hetmyer and Sunil Ambris for two middle-order spots.

West Indies (probable): 1 John Campbell, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Shamarh Brooks, 4 Shai Hope, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Shane Dowrich (wk), 8 Jason Holder, 9 Rahkeem Cornwall, 10 Jomel Warrican, 11 Kemar Roach

Pitch and conditions

Expect foggy mornings at the onset of winters up north in India. The conditions for red-ball cricket is relatively unknown at the ground, with only three first-class games being played at Lucknow since 2017.

Stats and trivia

• In the last three first-class games at Lucknow, an average of 2 centuries and 3.33 half-centuries have been witnessed per match

• With 333 runs, Jason Holder is West Indies’ highest run-scorer in 2019, averaging over 55 runs per innings. The second-highest run-scorer, Roston Chase, is more than 100 runs behind Holder.

• Rashid Khan averages 18 runs per wicket in Tests