West Indies v Pakistan 3rd Test, Preview: Retiring Pakistan legends looking to finish on a high

Pakistan, who were the number 1 ranked Test team for a brief while last year, succumbed to a shock defeat in the second Test at the hands of the hosts West Indies. They were ahead in the game for the first four days until they collapsed in pursuit of their target of 188 in the fourth innings to be skittled out for 81.

Such a defeat demoralizes a side and that is what the case would be when Pakistan would walk out to play the third Test at the Windsor Park in Dominica on Wednesday. In their 59 years of Test cricketing history against West Indies and after 7 series in the Caribbean, Pakistan has never won a Test series in this part of the world. With a strong batting line-up which consists of Younis and Misbah – who both will walk away from the game at the conclusion of this Test match – this is their best ever chance.

Nobody gave the West Indies a chance of winning a single game this series but they have defied odds to bounce back and certainly look good to give Pakistan a run for their money again. Young players – Shannon Gabriel, Roston Chase, Shai Hope and skipper Holder – have stepped up and proven their mettle. It remains to be seen if they have the courage to repeat their heroics in the all important Dominica Test match.

TOSS: West Indies won the toss and opted to field

Playing XI:

West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Vishaul Singh, Shane Dowrich(w), Jason Holder(c), Devendra Bishoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shannon Gabriel

Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed(w), Yasir Shah, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas

The focus will be on:

Misbah Ul Haq

After two glittering innings of 99 in each Test, Pakistan’s middle order depends on this 42-year old. The skipper has looked in good touch after his exploits in the PSL. He has led his team well and has absorbed the pressure well whenever he has found himself batting in a peculiar situation. The hallmark of Misbah’s career has been his ability to suss the pace of the wicket and adjust his game accordingly. The kind of service he has given to Pakistan, Misbah deserves to go on a high.

Younis Khan

Younis too will join his skipper in retirement post this Test match. Usually very consistent, the 39-year old hasn’t really got going yet in this series as he could gather just 69 runs from the 4 innings so far. Younis has always been the man for big occasions and he will be looking to step up for one last time. He will retire with almost every Test batting record for Pakistan and a series win in the West Indies will be an icing on the cake.

Shannon Gabriel 

Gabriel bowled with pace and accuracy to dismantle the Pakistan batting line-up in the 4^th innings at Barbados. He was the Man of The Match for his outstanding 5-wicket haul which skewed up the win for the hosts despite the vice-like grip the visitors had on the game in the first four days. The tall fast bowler is at the cynosure of an improbable series win for the West Indies going into the third Test. If he can produce a similar performance in this game, West Indies will come up triumphs.

Team Combinations

West Indies

The hosts will go in with the same team that won them the second Test. Openers Brathwaite and Powell played one crucial knock each in either innings but they have to convert the 30’s and the 40’s into substantial scores. These two along with Hetmyer at No. 3 need to contribute more as Pakistan chipped through the top order in both innings at Barbados which put too much undue pressure on the middle order. Apart from the top order woes, West Indies had a near-perfect game and must improve on their shortcomings in the series decider.

Pakistan

Despite the loss, Pakistan will go in with the same Playing XI with the exception of Shadab Khan who is expected to make way for senior statesman Wahab Riaz. The openers did a fantastic job in the first innings but failed to emulate that in the second essay. Babar Azam, the one drop batsman for Pakistan, scored a pair in the second Test but is still expected to hold on to his place in the side. Azam has been looked at as an option who can carry the baton of Pakistan Test batting post the retirements of Younis and Misbah. The rest of the players pick themselves up. The pressure of giving their legends a good send-off will be immense on Pakistan.

Stat Attack

0 – Number of Test series won by Pakistan in West Indies.

3 – Number of scores of 99 registered by Misbah Ul haq in Test cricket – the most by any batsman.